A shrub to small tree of 2-6 m tall, trunk up to 25 cm in diameter moderately branched, with leaf scars visible for a longtime. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, shiny, dark green, crowded in terminal rosettes, dagger-shaped, apex acute, base clasping , up to  10-30 cm long and 1.5- 3 cm wide. Inflorescence terminal, pendulous and distinctly reflexed on supporting branch, paniculate, with numerous flowers, up to 20- 40 cm long. Flowers  white to pale green up to 1.5 cm long. Fruit an orange berry up to 1.5 cm  and 2 cm wide.

In Rwanda, the leaves of Dracaena afromontana are traditionally used to treat colic, otitis media, and rheumatism. Kayiranga Mussa in Eastern Province uses  Dracaena afromontana to treat kidney  and liver disease and infections

Used to mark boundaries between proprieties.