It has found some popularity as an ornamental for tropical parks and large gardens due to its colourful flowers and fruit.

Dillenia alata is a medium-sized tree, growing to 20 m (66 ft) tall with a trunk up to 60 cm (24 in) diameter and a dense shady crown.

It opens widely at maturity, spliting into 8 valves (or segments) and revealing a number of 4 mm (0.16 in) long black seeds which are fully enclosed in a waxy white aril.

[10][11] His description was based on plant material collected by Joseph Banks at Point Lookout, Endeavour River, during James Cook's first voyage of discovery in 1770.

[6][13] The species is native to the islands of Waigeo, New Guinea, and the Torres Strait, as well as the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia.

In New Guinea the majority of observations occur in the southernmost region of the island, adjacent to the Torres Strait.

[1][15][16] This species has "considerable horticultural merit",[4] and the Australian botanist David L. Jones, in his book Rainforest Plants of Australia, said "A striking ornamental, common along stream banks and in swampy soils.