It has rough, finely fibrous bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves that are paler on the lower surface, flower buds in groups of eleven or more, white flowers and shortened spherical or barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus helidonica typically grows to a height of around 20 metres (66 ft) and forms a lignotuber.

Young plants and coppice regrowth have sessile, linear to narrow lance-shaped leaves that are arranged in opposite pairs and paler on the lower surface.

[3][4] Eucalyptus helidonica is part of the white mahogany group as recognised by Ken Hill.

[5] This stringybark is endemic to a small area surrounding the town of Helidon to the west of Brisbane amongst the Great Dividing Range.