Delonix regia is a large, deciduous tree with fern-like leaves. Leaves are bipinnate, slightly hairy, about 30 centimeters long. Leaflets are oblong, in 18 to 30 pairs, about 1.5 centimeters long. Flowers are large, showy, red or red and yellow, up to 12 centimeters across. Fruit is green and flaccid when youong, turning to dark, pendulous pods, elongate, woody, compressed, and up to 50 centimeters long, ending in a short beak upon maturity. Seed are olive brown or smooth, hard, glossy, oblong, shaped like date seeds, about 2 centimeters long.