[6] It is a popular ornamental plant in gardens in tropical and subtropical areas, grown for its abundant flowers and sweet, edible fruit.

In Phú Quốc, Vietnam, the fruits are used to produce a wine called rượu sim, and are also made into jellies, or freshly canned with syrup for export.

It has become an invasive species in some countries, spreading to form large, monospecific thickets that displace native flora and fauna.

[8] A risk assessment of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa for Hawaii and other Pacific islands was prepared by the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service.

The alien plant screening system is derived from Pheloung et al. (1999) with minor modifications for use in Pacific islands.

[11] Research was conducted at the University of Florida 1998–2000 to describe the ecology and determine effective control methods for this species.