IFAS Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service
The tamarind Tamarindus indica is a popular tree throughout
all areas of the world, supplying nutritious fruit as well as leaves. Thought
to be a native of tropical Africa, the trees are well adapted for most soil
types and can be found throughout much of Florida in the warmer regions.
Trees have an open spreading canopy, but may reach heights of forty
feet or more. The compound leaves have ten to twenty narrow leaflets about
a half inch long, and the tree has a very open canopy, allowing grass to
be grown beneath it without being shaded out.
Fruits mature in Florida during the late spring and early summer;
the pods, which are brown or cinnamon color, can be from three to eight
inches in length. At maturity, the woody pod becomes very brittle and can
be easily cracked, and the brownish-yellow pulp inside used for fresh eating
or for a variety of other products. Tamarind is a common ingredient in the
preparation of chutneys and meat sauces, and is used for a refreshing drink
as well. Preserves, sauces, and other products also incorporate this versatile
fruit. (Worcestershire sauce owes much of its basic character to tamarind.
Ed.) The tender leaves and flowers are even eaten by some cultures in
curries and chutneys.
Trees grow easily from seed, but usually take three to four years
before they begin flowers and fruit production. They have a high wind tolerance,
making them excellent choices for coastal areas where high winds are a problem.
They tolerate brief flooding, too, but don't like continually wet soils.
Mature trees are quite cold hardy taking down into the mid to lower twenties
(Fahrenheit) and might require some protection until they reach ten to fifteen
feet in height, and can withstand more cold weather.
© 2000 BGCII Page Posted March 2004
