Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Daderot, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC0

False tamarind

Lysiloma latisiliquum (L.) Benth.

Family: FabaceaeZones: 10B through 11

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
Not yet checked.
Preparation
n/a
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
No hazard route is stated for this plant in the sources cited; absence is not a safety clearance.
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

No ASPCA page for this species. Do not treat as pet-safe.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

USDA hardiness zones 10B through 11

Light

Full sun to partial shade per UF/IFAS.

Water needs

low low is a plain-language reading of UF/IFAS "drought tolerance: high". Always finger-test two inches down; a forecast does not describe your yard.

Mature size

US: UF/IFAS: 30-60 ft tall, 30-50 ft spread, moderate growth. Wildflower Center: up to about 65 ft; MX: Tulum list: 25-30 m tall

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. Kew POWO/WCVP - accepted-name record
  2. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS) ENH-525/ST366 - Lysiloma latisiliquum: False Tamarind (Gilman et al.)
  3. Ayuntamiento de Tulum / GIZ - Paleta vegetal para Tulum (PDF, 2023), page for Tzalam
  4. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Lysiloma latisiliquum
  5. ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list

How we choose sources

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