A small to medium sized evergreen, native tree of up to 25 metres, with a spreading crown, with highly aromatic greyish-green leaves of a rich eucalyptus scent. Bark is grey-brown and fibrous on all branches. Juvenile leaves are unique among the peppermints - as they have no stem, opposite each other in pairs of a roundish heart-shaped blue grey in colour. As the tree matures, the leaves lengthen, pointed and broad, with stalks of 7 - 15 cm in length. Tight clusters of white flower buds in October to November. The leaves for the essential oil are harvested from the wild.

Over 300 species of Eucalyptus in Australia,that are able to produce an essential oil. Only 20 eucalypt species are exploited commercially for oil production. Each Eucalypt produces a different chemical fingerprint with variations in the constituents within the oil.