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Chinese Pistache: There’s More Than Meets the Eye
Discover how the Chinese pistache grows from an overlooked seedling into a resilient, colorful tree that brings lasting beauty to any landscape.
August 26, 2015
Sometimes nicknamed the ‘ugly duckling’ in the tree world, the Chinese pistache is often snubbed because of its unattractive and misshapen early stages.
Although born into rough beginnings, the tree develops into an impressive specimen. It’s a hardy tree and commonly used in dry landscapes.
As the name predicts, the Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is related to the pistachio tree, although it does not produce any nuts. Not only is this tree heat and drought-tolerant, but it is also winter hardy AND pest and fire resistant. Talk about resilience! Here are a few things to note if you’re looking to add one to your yard.
Environmental Factors
- Grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, sandy, silty loam, well-drained and clay soils (hardiness zones 6-9).
- Grows 1-2 feet a year, reaching 25-35 feet at maturity.
- Prefers full sun, at least 6 hours of direct unfiltered sunlight a day
Physical Attributes
- Produces panicles of greenish flowers in April & May.
- Withstands heat quite well and tolerates urban conditions.
- Provides vibrant fall foliage with shades of orange and red.
