Field ManualAll plants

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
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.
Get the app: coming soonCare
- 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
How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.
Get the app: coming soonAnatomy & Guilds
Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics
How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonField Doctor
Field Doctor
What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonVintage Plates
Vintage Plates
Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonSources
- Kew POWO/WCVP - accepted-name record
- UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS) ENH-525/ST366 - Lysiloma latisiliquum: False Tamarind (Gilman et al.)
- Ayuntamiento de Tulum / GIZ - Paleta vegetal para Tulum (PDF, 2023), page for Tzalam
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Lysiloma latisiliquum
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list