The leaves are flattened and thick (at least 9mm), with wavy edges. Dracaena pethera grows stemless as a perennial, succulent plant with strong rhizomes. The simple leaf blade is from 75 to 275 inches long and from 6 to 9 inches wide. It gradually narrows from about the middle into a 8.5—12.7 millimeter long pale whitish brown and hard spider tip. The leaves are whitish brown, greyish green, speckled or light green transversely banded, with three to nine dark green longitudinal lines. The leaf margin is wavy and reddish brown. The leaf surface is smooth. The pulchra variety has clearly more marked and partially prostrate leaves, with whitish green, buff-colored or almost reddish spots or irregular bands. The flower of Dracaena pethera is greenish-white, scented, and is carried on a conical inflorescence.