A fast growing, evergreen, thornless shrub, reaching a height of 5 m to 20 m. Leucaena is a long-lived perennial legume. It has a deep taproot and is highly branched. Leaves are bipinnate, bearing numerous leaflets 8 mm to 16 mm long. The inflorescence is a cream coloured globular shape producing clusters of flat brown pods, 13 to 18 mm long containing 15-30 seeds. Flowering and fruiting occur throughout the year.
The tree is native to Guatemala and Mexico.