The bolly gum is an evergreen tree growing up to 15 m (49 ft) high, the trunk can reach 30 cm (12 in) diameter and may be buttressed.

[5][6][7] The twigs are densely covered in fine brown hairs on the younger parts and are terete (circular in cross-section).

[5] The globose (roughly spherical) fruit is a drupe up to 11 mm (0.43 in) in diameter, green when immature and dark red to black when ripe, and they contain a single seed.

[14] It is an understory species found in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest on a variety of soil types, and at altitudes from sea level to 1,150 m (3,770 ft).

[5][7][6] This plant is a host species for larvae of the moths Acrocercops ordinatella and Gibbovalva quadrifasciata, as well as the blue triangle butterfly (Graphium sarpedon).