The carnaval tree, native to tropical America, looks out of place here in the Southwest. Its large, rich green, compound leaves and bright yellow, upright flower stalks that break out of the canopy make it a popular ornamental plant. It is a legume, meaning it produces bean pods and is a member of the Fabaceae family. Usually, it is a small, rounded tree, blooms frequently, and is a striking accent. In other parts of the world, it can be invasive, but here it poses little threat of being a pest. Since it is tropical, it is neither very cold hardy nor drought tolerant and requires very careful site selection; preferably on the south side of a building. If the site is well thought out, this can be a very attractive tree even in the Sonoran desert. See for yourself several places around campus!
