Caesalpinia mexicana - Mexican bird of paradise

About a hundred species of Caesalpinia are native to tropical America, Asia and Namibia, Africa. They may be shrubs, vines or trees. Most are spiny. Several species are useful for timber, dyes and local medicines. Mexican bird of paradise is an uncommon ornamental shrub or tree with yellow flowers in spring and summer.

Judging from literature, the cold hardiness of this plant is not well known. To date, this species has survived winter temperatures in Jacksonville as low as the upper teens F. In an exceptionally cold winter, it may die to the ground and resprout the following spring. It grows easily in a well-drained, sunny site.