It has smooth grey bark, narrow oblong to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds that are square in cross-section, red at maturity and arranged singly in leaf axils, yellow flowers and four-angled, winged fruit.

[2][3][4][5][6] Eucalyptus forrestiana was first formally described in 1904 by the botanist Ludwig Diels in the journal Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie, in an article jointly authored with Georg August Pritzel.

[7][8] The specific epithet (forrestiana) honours "Sir John Forrest", explorer, botanical collector and later the first Premier of Western Australia and member of the first Federal Parliament.

[5][7] Fuchsia gum is found around salt lakes and on sand plains in a small area in near-coastal between Ravensthorpe and Cape Arid National Park, extending inland as far as Mt.

[3] Eucalyptus forrestiana is commonly used as a small street tree in semi-arid areas due to its highly decorative appearance.