Dracaena draco is a monocot with a tree-like growth habit, young plants are single stemmed. At about 10–15 years of age the stem stops growing and produces a first flower spike. Soon after flowering and fruiting, a crown of terminal buds appears and the plant starts branching. Each branch grows for about 10–15 years and re-branches, giving the mature plants an umbrella-like structure. It grows slowly, requiring about ten years to reach 1.2 metres in height, but can grow much faster in ideal conditions.