[2][3] In Australia it ranges from Port Macquarie in New South Wales[4] northwards to Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, within tropical and subtropical rainforests, usually on the more fertile basaltic sites, but sometimes close to the sea.

Its common names include blush walnut, hard bolly gum, and nut wood.

The trunk features scales with round depressions, colloquially known as "bollies", similar to the related bollygum, Litsea reticulata.

The fruit ripens from December to July, being a black egg-shaped drupe with a scented green oily aril.

As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy aril is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia obtusifolia.