A tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica) with ripe brown bean-shaped pods.

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is probably indigenous to tropical Africa. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabaceae.

Delicious tamarind is a slow-growing, long-lived, tropical tree reaching, under favorable conditions, a height of 40 or even 70 feet with a spread of 30 feet and a trunk that can reach a circumference of 15 feet. Highly wind resistant, the strong supple branches droop gracefully at the ends are blanketed in a mass of bright green fine, feathery foliage composed of narrow 3 to 6 inch long leaves. Inconspicuous flowers are 1 inch wide with yellow petals that may have orange or red streaks. The fruit is a beanlike bulging cinnamon brown colored pod that holds within a tart sticky paste like pulp around the seed. When ripe the outer pod skin becomes brittle and easy to crack making extraction of the dried pulp much easier.

It is not mandatory, but trimming is essential if you want to keep your tamarind tree healthy. Simply remove misplaced branches by cutting them off at their base or just above a branch. It can be done throughout the year.