Mexican bird of paradise is an evergreen shrub or small tree with alternate, bipinnate dark green leaves. It rapidly grows to 10-15' high and wide where winter temperatures allow. The stems are brittle. The flowers are bright yellow, slightly fragrant, clustered spikes on branch tips. They bloom spring and summer, possibly into fall, depending on the local microclimate. The ripe fruit are tan seed pods that open explosively, scattering bean-like seeds. The roots contain nitrogen-fixing nodules, allowing it to grow in poor soil.
