小灌木或呈攀緣狀藤本，皮孔褐色，高可達3公尺。掌狀複葉，互生，葉柄頗長，約10～15公分；小葉6～12枚，葉片長橢圓形，長約8～15公分，寬約4～5公分，先端鈍至凹頭，基部鈍或圓。花為多數繖形花序組成之頂生圓錐花序；單花小型，多數，花瓣5～7，淡黃色或黃綠色，徑約0.3～0.45公分，6～20枚組成一花序軸，軸長約15～35公分（即前述之頂生圓錐花序），小繖形花序梗長約2～3公分；萼小型，邊緣為截斷狀；花瓣5～7枚，橢圓形，小型，寬約0.15公分，有3條脈紋；雄蕊5～7枚；子房6室。果球形，黃紅熟，徑約0.5公分，有5或6縱溝，種子5～7個。秋季開花。
鵝掌蘗僅產於臺灣及海南島中、低海拔森林，但導入園藝界後，於世界各地之公園或室內觀賞植物均可見普遍栽培。本種與產於菲律賓呂宋、巴丹、民答納峨及巴拉望、泰國、馬來西亞及臺灣僅見於蘭嶼的鵝掌藤（Schefflera odorata (Blanco) Merr.&Rolfe）長的很像或中名互有混淆，主要的差別在產蘭嶼者，葉柄 / 小葉比更大、葉圓卵形至圓形，波狀緣，小葉6-7或更少。其原因在產於臺灣的本種（鵝掌蘗），在園藝界大量繁殖推廣下，多以「鵝掌藤」來稱呼，久而久之，市面上的「鵝掌藤」中名，就取代原先用在蘭嶼的種類，且專用在稱呼本種為主了。
在臺灣是優良之垣籬或園景樹，也是重要之室內木本觀葉植物，世界各地競相引種，亦見於室內樹藝盆景栽培種類，有乳班葉種出現；果實更是鵯科鳥類的最愛。本種與其屬內之蔓藤性物種，在國內外產地的民俗利用上，有作為藥用，如：祛風除濕、活血、止痛、壯筋骨、消腫之效；亦有治胃痛、風濕、痺痛、關節炎、跌打損傷......等。
Mexican frangipani is a deciduous tree that typically grows to around 3–5 meters tall. Its tree bark is light gray, soft, and produces white sap. Its leaves are alternate, 20–30 cm in length, 5–10 cm in width, long oval shaped, and acute at the tip. Its yellowish white flowers grow in panicles, and blossom during May to July.
This plant is native to Mexico and Central America. It was introduced in Taiwan in 1646 by the Dutch and was further planted by the Japanese during their occupation. Mexican frangipani is generally regarded as an ornamental tree, and can be seen planted in parks and schools. The native Hawaiians are known to use its flowers to craft headbands for celebrations and ornaments. The flower is also a national flower for Laos. In Yunnan, China, this tree is regarded as one of the five sacred trees, and is present in every local temple. In Guangdong, China, its flower is one of the ingredients for the five flower tea. However, most of the plants that belong to the Apocynaceae family, including Mexican frangipani, are poisonous. Consuming raw parts of the tree, including the flowers and fruits, will cause serious health risks.