[4][5][6] Eucalyptus bakeri was first formally described in 1913 by Joseph Maiden from a specimen collected near Wallangarra in 1911 by Edward Swain.

The specific epithet (bakeri) honours Richard Thomas Baker "who has done valuable work in connection with this genus".

[9] Baker's mallee occurs near Yetman and Warialda in New South Wales and near Roma, Talwood and Dalby in Queensland with an outlier in the White Mountains National Park.

[4][5] This eucalypt is able to tolerate drought and light frost and will grow in ordinary to enriched and mildly acidic or alkaline soils.

It is cultivated for use in gardens as a bird attracting shade tree, windbreak or coppice which has a medium growth rate.