Eucalyptus brassiana is a tree that typically grows to a height of about 20 m (70 ft) and forms a lignotuber.

The bark on the lower part of the trunk but sometimes extending to the branches is rough, hard and dark grey to black.

[3][4] Eucalyptus brassiana was first formally described in 1977 by Stanley Thatcher Blake from a specimen he collected at Cooktown in 1958.

[5] The specific epithet (brassiana) honours Leonard John Brass, who collected plant specimens on Cape York Peninsula.

[3] Cape York red gum grows in woodland and open forest on seasonally flooded flats, on rocky slopes and undulating plains.