It has rough, fibrous bark on some or all of the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, red, pink or bright yellow flowers and short, broad, conical fruit.

The seeds are brown, an irregular pyramid shape and 2.5–4 mm (0.098–0.157 in) long.

[3][4][5][6] Eucalyptus youngiana was first formally described in 1876 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his book Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae, based on specimens collected at Queen Victoria Spring by Jess Young during the Giles expedition of May 1875.

[7][8][9] The specific epithet honours Jess Young, a member of Giles's fourth expedition, who collected the type specimen.

[4][10] The large-fruited mallee grows in sandy soil on flat country, often associated with Triodia species.