This spectacular flowering tree is the Shower of Gold, Cassia fistula.

Its name comes from the long, hanging clusters of bright yellow flowers that can cover the tree in a golden cascade. When it is in full bloom, the branches may be so heavily decorated that the flowers become more noticeable than the leaves.

The leaves are compound, with several pairs of broad green leaflets. In some climates, the tree loses part of its foliage before flowering, which makes the yellow display appear even more dramatic.

After flowering, it produces long, dark brown seedpods that hang from the branches like narrow cylinders. Inside, the seeds are arranged in separate compartments surrounded by a dark pulp.

Shower of Gold is native to South and Southeast Asia but is now widely planted throughout the tropics for its beauty. It is also the national flower of Thailand and has long held cultural and medicinal importance in parts of Asia.

The tree belongs to the pea family, and its flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Even when it is not blooming, the long seedpods make it easy to recognize.

Few tropical trees live up to their common name as perfectly as the Shower of Gold.