Sweet Tamarind Plant 24"+ / 3 Gal
Sweet Tamarind Tree, 3 Gallon, Grown in Florida
This is the sweet type of tamarind, the one you eat straight from the pod, not the sour cooking kind. It's 24"+ in a 3 gal pot, grown in Miami. Once established it's tough, handling drought, poor soil and wind, and it can live in a large container. More in our post Sweet vs Sour Tamarind.
Grown by Tony in Miami. Ships nationwide, with shipping calculated at checkout. Local pickup in Miami and delivery in Miami-Dade also available. Text Tony: 786-774-2125
From Tony, the grower: Grown by Tony himself at our Miami nursery. Every Sweet Tamarind we send is a tree I've looked after here in Miami.
Size: Listed at 24"+ in a 3 gallon pot. Seed-grown. See our shipping policy for how trees are packed for shipping.
Bigger trees, fairer prices. We keep our prices fair so you get more tree for your money.
Care basics: Plant in full sun in well-draining soil, water deeply 2-3 times a week while it settles in, then let the top inch of soil dry between waterings. Feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer during the warm months, and protect young trees from frost (cover or move inside if temperatures drop near freezing).
Makes a great gift: Sending it as a gift? Email your gift message to tony@giardinofresco.com after you order and we'll include a gift note with the tree.
Shipping: Ships nationwide, with shipping calculated at checkout. Local pickup in Miami and delivery in Miami-Dade also available.
Questions? Call or text Tony at 786-774-2125.
Tamarind Tree Grown from Seed (Tamarindus indica)
Bring home one of the world’s most iconic tropical trees with this seed-grown Tamarind from Giardino Fresco.
Native to tropical Africa and treasured across India, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America, tamarind is a long-lived evergreen prized for its feathery foliage, fragrant yellow-and-red flowers, and distinctive brown pods filled with sweet-tart pulp. That pulp is the flavor behind Worcestershire sauce, pad Thai, chutneys, aguas frescas, candies, and countless curries.
These vigorous seed-grown trees offer strong roots, genetic diversity, and the classic tamarind look: fine pinnate leaves that cast light, airy shade and a spreading crown that becomes more sculptural with age. Fruit quality can vary from tree to tree—some lean sweeter, others more tart—but many produce excellent pods once mature.
Expect a slow-to-moderate grower that can reach 30–80 feet in the tropics if unpruned, but is easily kept much smaller (10–25 feet) with pruning for Florida yards, large containers, or edible landscapes. Trees grown from seed typically take several years longer to fruit than grafted specimens, often beginning to bear in 6–10+ years under good conditions. Mature trees can be highly productive, with brittle brown pods that dry on the tree and are easy to harvest.
Why grow tamarind?
• Unique sweet-sour fruit for cooking, drinks, and preserves
• Beautiful ornamental shade tree with fine, fern-like foliage
• Drought-tolerant once established; wind-resistant branches
• Multipurpose: fruit, shade, and traditional uses for leaves and wood
• A conversation piece for tropical collectors and food-forest growers
Thrives in full sun and well-draining soil in USDA zones 10–11 (protect young trees from freezes below about 30°F). Once established it handles heat, humidity, and dry spells well—ideal for South Florida and other warm subtropical climates.
Start your own tamarind journey with a healthy, well-rooted seedling from Giardino Fresco. Plant it, give it sun and time, and one day you’ll be cooking with fruit from a tree you grew yourself.
Tamarind growing guide
Plant facts at a glance
Botanical name: Tamarindus indica
Listed size: 3 gallon (24 in.+ listed)
Mature size: A slow-growing, long-lived tree that can reach 40–80 ft in the tropics. Usually much smaller in home yards, and easy to keep small with pruning.
Sun: Full sun.
Water: Very drought tolerant once established. Water regularly the first year.
Cold hardiness / USDA zones: Zones 10–11. Mature trees tolerate brief temperatures near 28°F, but young trees should be protected from frost.
Time to fruit: Seedling trees often take 5+ years to bear. Grafted or air-layered trees can fruit in about 3–4 years.
Taste and uses: Pods are filled with sticky, sweet-tart pulp used in agua de tamarindo, chutneys, pad Thai, candies, BBQ sauces and curries. Sweet types are good for snacking straight from the pod.
Container vs. in-ground: Tolerates container culture and pruning well. It's even a popular bonsai subject.
Bigger tree, fairer price
Plenty of online nurseries list a 1-gallon tamarind at the price you'd expect for a 3-gallon tree. Ours is a 3-gallon tree, 24 in.+, grown in Miami, so it gets established and toward fruiting sooner.
Tamarind in the landscape
Tamarind is wind-resistant and handles salt spray, sandy soil and South Florida's alkaline limestone. That makes it a good shade or specimen tree in frost-free yards. In cooler climates, grow it in a large pot and protect it in winter.
How to use your tamarind
Agua de tamarindo: soak the shelled pulp in warm water, strain, then sweeten and chill.
Sauces and chutneys: tamarind paste adds tang to pad Thai, curries and BBQ sauce.
Snacking: sweet tamarind pulp can be eaten straight from the pod.
Care
Plant in a sunny, well-drained spot. It handles sandy, rocky and alkaline soils well.
Feed young trees lightly every 2–3 months in the warm season.
Shape with light pruning while young.
Pods are ripe when the shell turns brown and brittle.
Frequently asked questions
How long until a tamarind tree fruits?
Seedling trees often need 5+ years. Grafted or air-layered trees can fruit in about 3–4.
Is tamarind drought tolerant?
Very. Once established, it needs little supplemental water.
Can tamarind grow in a pot?
Yes. It tolerates pruning and container culture well.
How cold can tamarind handle?
Mature trees survive brief dips near 28°F. Protect young trees from frost.
Do you ship to my state?
Yes. Ships nationwide, with shipping calculated at checkout. Local pickup in Miami and delivery in Miami-Dade also available. Questions? Call or text Tony at 786-774-2125.
Growing information is based on University of Florida IFAS Extension guidance. Results vary with climate and care.
Complete growing guide: Sweet Tamarind Growing Guide: Care, Pests and Harvest in South Florida
