Backhousia sciadophora is a common Australian tree, growing from near Dungog in New South Wales to near Kilcoy in southeast Queensland.

The habitat of shatterwood is drier areas of rainforest in gorges and steep slopes, usually not on volcanic soils.

Shatterwood is a small to medium size tree, occasionally reaching 30 metres in height and 80 cm in trunk diameter.

The bark is grey or fawn, rough with short fibres, finely vertically fissured, shedding in narrow scales.

The leaves are opposite, simple, entire, broadly ovate or elliptical, 5 to 10 cm long.