Manila Tamarind (Madras Thorn)

Manila tamarind is a fast-growing tree of the pea family with a broad crown and small leaves, with short thorns in pairs at the leaf bases. Its small white flowers are loved by bees, and its coiled pods hold a sweet, white to reddish edible pulp.

Why Manila tamarind?

• Drought tolerant thanks to its wide roots, and copes with salty and poor soils.
• Fast-growing: on good soil it can reach 10 m in 5–6 years.
• With regular trimming it forms a dense, thorny hedge that's hard to get through.
• Pods with sweet edible pulp, and flowers visited by bees.

Where to plant it

As a hedge along a garden or farm boundary, or as a shade tree in open spaces. Because it's thorny, keep it away from paths and children's play areas. It sends up root suckers and spreads by seed, so remove suckers and fallen pods to keep it in place.

Care in the Saudi climate

• Light: full, direct sun.
• Water: water regularly until established; after that it needs little water.
• Soil: copes with poor and salty soil; grows best in deep, well-drained soil.
• Salt: good tolerance of salty soil.
• Cold: not frost-hardy – protect young trees on cold Riyadh nights.
• Pruning: trim regularly for a hedge, or remove lower branches to form a shade tree. Wear gloves because of the thorns.

Sizes

• 1.0–1.5 m: a young tree, good for hedging.
• 2.0–2.5 m (trunk about 2 inches thick): a bigger tree for quicker shade.