This seedling volunteered itself to grow in my garden. Perhaps it was a gift from the wind or a bird. I have received some really great plants from them in the past. The first true leaves are slender, five fingers, opposite (as we can see from the new shoot coming out). The stem is mostly red. Does this mean it wants to be a tree? It doesn't look like anything i've grown before. Does any one recognize this seedling?

Looks like a Lupin seedling ..

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

A wild Lupin would be wonderful. They do grow in Mexico as well as Central and South America and the online seedlings look very similar to the one i have. I can use a Fabaceae in my garden too. This is enough encouragement for me to want to grow this plant to maturity and we can see for sure if it is a Lupin. Thank you Janet...your response was so quick. Would you say this is solved? or should i leave the thread open for a little while?

You're welcome Beverly.

I can't see that it's anything else, it was instant recognition. There might be another plant which looks similar which I don't know about, but I would mark it solved and if anyone else comes up with something different you can open it again.

Yes, i agree Janet. I've been doing more research after you mentioned Lupin. I thought Choisya dumosa could be an option, but the leaves are opposite so it is eliminated. Then i discovered 5 Lupins native to Mexico and another one has just been discovered in the state of Oaxaca that has the potential to become an 8 m (26') tall tree (i hope i don't have that one). I expect it might be a hartwegii, we'll just have to wait and see. When it grows to maturity, i'll add it to the database if i can determine the species. This is one of the most exciting parts of gardening here. I spent 4 years looking for a native Aristolochia in the wild (they would never be available at the nurseries here) and i never found one, but one found me, a very interesting one at that popped up in my garden one day...i was so excited. Thank you again for your help,