🌳 Tree
ANX-TREE-0000013
Tamarind
Tamarindus indica
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), a fruit, shade, fodder tree of the Fabaceae family.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Tree type
- Fruit, Shade, Fodder
- Mature height (m)
- 12-25
- Growth rate
- Slow to medium
- Lifespan (years)
- 150-200
- Native region
- Tropical Africa, long naturalized/cultivated across South Asia.
Environment
Growing Conditions
- Climate requirements
- Tropical to subtropical; highly drought-tolerant once established.
- Soil types
- Tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor, sandy, or rocky ground.
- Water requirements
- Drought-tolerant once established; a classic dryland fruit tree.
Cultivation
Planting & Care
- Planting guide
- Grown from seed or grafted seedlings for improved fruiting; grafted trees fruit earlier than seedling trees.
- Care guide
- Very low maintenance once established; minimal pruning beyond removing dead wood.
Phenology
Flowering & Fruiting
- Flowering season
- Small yellow-red flowers
- Fruiting season
- Long brown pods with sour pulp, maturing several months after flowering
Value
Uses & Economic Importance
- Uses
- Sour pulp used widely in cooking/condiments, seed and leaves used as livestock fodder, dense wood for tools, and shade.
- Economic importance
- A major dryland fruit tree across Africa and Asia, valued both for household food security and as a traded commodity (tamarind paste/concentrate).
Trade
Marketplace
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