I have seen this wonderful tree all over south America and in Manila,Luzon and Guangzhou,China. most species dont seem very spiny,the best I saw were on the border between Peru and Ecuador and in the Chaco wilderness of Paraguay. The tree is known as Palo Boracho(drunken stick) in S.America. I am trying to germinate seeds of Speciosa at present though insignis will be better for me to try in a warm sheltered spot in my S.E. England garden as that species is more frost tolerant. The tree grows in some parts of Chile where the winters are very cold,maybe the light is not sufficient in my garden ...time will tell :-)