I started a tamarind tree from seed at least fifteen years ago. I would have more often found a started plant but had some seeds with sprouted very easily. I ended up with one tree which was stepped up from one pot to another pot until ultimately, I had to plant it in the landscape. It took some time, but as of this date it is over seven feet tall and has been bearing tamarind pods for a couple of years. If you have never tried tamarind, it is an interesting treat that can be a little sweet like candy, or a little tart best used in sauces.
The tamarind tree does fairly well in south Florida, and besides mine, I have seen at least two additional specimens in the area. It is a frost-tender tropical in the legume family, so I did experience some damage from our past winter cold snap that killed a couple of small branches. My tamarind recovered nicely and is in full bloom at this moment. The number of flowers is amazing and consist of almost orchid-like yellow and reddish pink, three-petalled flowers on six-inch long dangling stems blooming from spring though summer. Once pollination occurs, the flowers are followed by up to seven-inch long velvety pods changing from green to brown as they mature and dry. Each pod contains several very hard brown seeds surrounded by a sticky brown paste that is variably sweet to tangy to the tongue. Commercially, you can often obtain the pods in the produce section of some supermarkets or from specialty shops. Products made from the paste include sauces, drinks, candy, chutneys, and curries. Fruit quality may vary from tree to tree as some may be more on the sweet side, and some more on the tangy persuasion. Keep in mind that some homeowners find the litter from the dropped pods a nuisance, so site your tree accordingly.
The tamarind tree can grow quite large over time reaching over fifty feet in some areas – no more than thirty feet is common in our region. The feathery, compound leaves of this evergreen tree provide dappled shade as it develops into a dome-shaped specimen. Locate your tree in full sun with enough space to accommodate this large tree which is known to be very wind resistant. Tamarind is also not considered an invasive plant by the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas and is very drought tolerant once established. It is, however, not very salt-tolerant, so keep it away from direct coastal exposures. One note of caution – tamarind is toxic to dogs.
Although you can find tamarind trees available for sale at family-run nurseries or specialty tropical fruit tree vendors, they do germinate easily from seed or by rooting cuttings. Always “Plan Before You Plant” to make sure you have the space.
Tamarind trees are a long-term investment in time and flavor. If you like the taste of the paste, try a tamarind tree in your own backyard! For more information on all types of edible ornamentals in the landscape to be aware of, or to ask a question, please visit https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteCountyExtension. You can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Gilman, E. F., Watson, D. G., Klein, R. W., Koeser, A. K., Hilbert, D. R. & McLean, D. C. (2018) Tamarindus indica: Tamarind. The University of Florida/IFAS.
Wikipedia Tamarind (2026) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarind.
UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (2026) The University of Florida, IFAS.
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