The Mexican bird of paradise plant is not cold-hardy, and even the Sonoran Desert is too cold for it in the winter. It dies back once it freezes and needs to be trimmed to the ground. However, it regrows the following year, and, if there are plentiful monsoon rains, creates another large, green, spine-free bush. Insects and animals don't seem to eat the foliage, but bees, moths, and wasps are frequent visitors to the flowers.