Common names for this species include churnwood, citronella, soapy box, silky beech,[1] and corduroy.

Citronella moorei is a large tree attaining a height of 50 metres and a diameter of 2 m. The crown is dark green and dense.

Branchlets are moderately slender, green and smooth, while young shoots are finely downy.

They are eaten by green catbird, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit dove.

Citronella moorei is found from the Clyde River, New South Wales (35° S) to Mossman, Queensland (16° S) in the tropics.