[2] It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and houseplant, valued for its richly coloured, evergreen leaves, and thick, irregular stems.

While it may reach a height of 4–5 m, rarely 6 m in ideal, protected locations, D. reflexa is usually much smaller, especially when grown as a houseplant.

[4][5] The flowers are small, clustered, usually white and extremely fragrant, appearing in mid winter.

D. marginata) differs in having a magenta tint to its flowers, a shrubby habit, and olive green leaves.

It prefers bright, filtered light, without direct sun exposure, restricted outdoors to zones 10–11.

[citation needed] The cultivar Dracaena reflexa 'Variegata' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

[8] (confirmed 2017)[9] Traditional medicine practitioners of Madagascar have long believed Dracaena reflexa to cure malarial symptoms, poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, and to be useful as an antipyretic and hemostatic agent.

It is a popular houseplant that needs little attention, with several cultivars available with the leaves variegated with red or pale yellow.

[14] There are many commonly used names to describe this variety that arise due to the various growth patterns and different cultivars.