It has rough ironbark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped, to cup-shaped or conical fruit.

Eucalyptus melanoleuca is a tree that typically grows to a height of 30 m (98 ft) and forms a lignotuber.

[4][5] Eucalyptus melanoleuca was first formally described by Stanley Thatcher Blake in the journal Austrobaileya from a specimen he collected near Yarraman.

[6][7] The specific epithet (melanoleuca) refers to the strongly contrasted black and white trunk.

[5] This eucalypt is classed as "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.