Xanthophyllum flavescens is a plant in the family Polygalaceae. The specific epithet ' is from the Latin meaning "becoming yellow', referring to the leaves.
Xanthophyllum flavescens grows as a shrub or tree up to tall with a trunk diameter of up to . The bark is grey or greenish brown. The flowers are yellow, white or pink. The brown fruits are round and measure up to in diameter.
Xanthophyllum flavescens grows naturally in continental Southeast Asia and western Malesia. Its habitat is mixed dipterocarp or montane forests from sea-level to altitude.