Red lauan is a large tree attaining a height of about 50 meters and a diameter of about 200 centimeters. It is strongly buttressed and with straight-cylindrical bole.
Its leaves are alternate, smooth, dark green above, hairy along nerves beneath, and oblong in shape.
Red lauan is a valuable export as sawn timber. The bark is considered to have great potential for use as a building board. The bark is considered to have a great potential for use as building board. S. negrosensis yields a pulp with high over-all strength properties. The wood density is 420-805 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content. The timber is commonly used as a compression member in timber framed structures.
The tree is important in protecting watershed areas by controlling erosion.