[4][5][6][7] Corymbia bella was first formally described in 1995 by Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson from specimens collected 64.5 km (40.1 mi) north of Larrimah in 1998.

It is then found east from the border from Doomadgee to Cloncurry and Croydon and in the south west of the Cape York Peninsula as far as the lower part of the Mitchell River.

[5][4] The tree prefers alluvial soils along low lying seasonally wet areas such as flood plains where it comprises part of the woodlands found in these locations.

It is also commonly found along creek levees and the edge of swamps and lakes amongst melaleucas and also makes up part of savanah woodland at low point of the plains.

It is adaptable to most dry or moist well-drained soils in a sunny position and is regarded as hardy, drought and frost tolerant.