A small to medium tree, occasionally reaching a height of 25 m and diameter of 0.6 m. It has a wide distribution in the Western Australian wheatbelt, in areas receiving rainfalls between 230 -400 mm. It grows on a range of soils, but does best on good loamy soils, with a proportion of clay.
It grows in low woodland in association with salmon gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia), redwood (Eucalyptus transcontinentalis), mirret (Eucalyptus celastroides), square fruited mallee (Eucalyptus pileata), spinifex (Triodia spp) and bluebush (Maireana spp)
The wood is strong and dense and was used for poles, posts and firewood. The bark contains 18 - 20% tannin.