The characteristics of tamarind trees include (a) short, stout trunks topped by bushy, wide-spreading crowns with arching branches, (b) ferny, even-pinnate, compound leaves with light green leaflets, (c) summer bloom of red-veined cream to pale yellow flowers in drooping racemes, and (d) plump cinnamon-brown bean-like seed pods filled, when ripe, with an edible, sweet-sour

Tropical Africa is the native home of the tamarind, a leguminous tree of the Fabaceae family. Tamarindus is a monotypic taxon, meaning it has only one species.

Select a suitable location for the tamarind tree. When young, it need full sun and some protection from the cold. For the first few years, you can either build your own cold protection or choose the south side of a slope.

In the spring, sow tamarind seeds 1/2 inch deep. Pod-collected seeds are still viable for several months and will sprout a week after planting.