 "Eucalyptus yalatensis" was first formally described in 1975 by Clifford Boomsma in the "South Australian Naturalist" from specimens collected by Bruce Jabez Copley (1933–1984) near Yalata in 1969.The specific epithet and common name refer to the area where the type specimens were collected.Yalata mallee grows in mallee on level to slightly undulating country, sometimes on limestone cliffs but always on calcareous or sandy soil over limestone.