This fantastic tree from South America is both showy and odd. Large, ruffled, five-petalled flowers have five petals and resemble orchids. The petals are magenta, fading to white at the base and streaked with carmine. A long staminal column protrudes from the flower like a hibiscus. Compound leaves have 5 to 7 leaflets. The trunk is bottle-shaped and swollen, covered with formidable stout thorns. Not winter hardy, this plant grows best with consistent moisture in humusy, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates some light shade, but it will flower best in full sun. Trees with established root systems have some drought tolerance, growing in an environment with periodic dry and wet seasons. The leaves drop when temperatures sink below 27 degrees F.