[9] Cassia fistula is widely grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas.

[11] In 1911, Robert Scott Troup conducted an experiment to determine how the seeds of C. fistula are dispersed.

[13] In Ayurvedic medicine, the golden shower tree is known as aragvadha, meaning "disease killer".

The fruit pulp is considered a purgative,[14][15] and self-medication or any use without medical supervision is strongly advised against in Ayurvedic texts.

[7] Within developing countries, approximately 80% of populations prefer the usage of traditional medicine to resolve primary medical symptoms.

[18] Cassia fistula flower extract displayed an anti-aging properties when introduced to the human skin fibroblast and has a variety of cosmetic and nutritional applications.

The flowers are of ritual importance in preparation of Kani during the Vishu festival of Kerala[21] which falls in the month of April.

The tree is frequently cultivated in Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka where the Sinhala name is Ehela, ඇහැල.

[23] The laburnum is the school tree of National Taiwan Normal University, thought to be because of the seed pods' similarity to the whips used by teachers in times past.