| Botanical Name |
Tamarindus indica |
| Common Names |
Tamarind, Tart Tamarind |
| Family |
Fabaceae |
| Origin |
Tropical Africa |
| Plant Type |
Tropical/Subtropical Evergreen Fruit Tree |
| Life Cycle |
Perennial Evergreen |
| Mature Size |
30+ ft.; can take excessive pruning in the summer; prized Bonsai specimen |
| Light |
Full Sun, Part Shade |
| Water Needs |
Moderate; drought-tolerant once established |
| Soil |
Rich, well-draining soil; tolerates a wide diversity of soil types, rocky land, porous limestone, and salt spray |
| Bloom Time |
Summer in Florida, Central America, and the West Indies |
| Flower Color |
Red and Yellow |
| USDA Zones |
Outdoors 9–11 with frost protection; Patio/Greenhouse 4+ |
| Florida Native |
No |
| Propagation |
Medium: Seed; XL: Grafted or Air-Layered |
| Seasonal Traits |
Evergreen |
| Self-Fertile |
Yes |
| Growth Rate |
Slow, Medium |
| Harvest Season |
Spring, Summer |
| Time to Harvest |
Medium: capable of producing fruit within 3–4 years; XL: capable of blooming and producing fruit now |
| Fruit Production |
A mature tree may annually produce 330–500 fruits |
| Fruit Ripening |
In Florida, Central America, and the West Indies, ripening takes place from April through June; fruits may be left on the tree for up to 6 months after maturity to reduce moisture content to 20% or lower |
| Cold Hardiness |
Very young trees should be protected from cold; older tree |
