Pistacia chinensis

Chinese Pistache
Anacardiaceae
Deciduous, Trees

PISTACIA

These are ornamental species; for the plant grown for edible nuts, see Pistachio Nut. Glossy deep green leaves are divided into leaflets; insignificant flowers. If male trees are nearby, female trees will bear clusters of tiny fruits. Verticillium wilt may strike established trees. Minimize susceptibility by planting in well-drained soil and watering deeply but infrequently. Young trees tend to be irregular in form and benefit from early training and pruning.

Pistacia chinensis

From China. Slow to moderate growth to 30 to 60 ft. tall, with nearly equal spread. Foot-long leaves consist of 10–16 narrow, 2–4-in.-long leaflets. Good fall color, even in mild climates: foliage turns luminous orange to red (sometimes shades of yellow). This is the only tree to color scarlet in the desert. Fruit is red at first, then ripens to blue black. Tolerates a wide range of conditions. Accepts various watering regimes, from no water at all (this only in deep soils) to regular lawn watering (though verticillium wilt is a danger with the latter). Takes moderately alkaline soil. Resistant to oak root fungus. Reliable tree for streetside planting, lawn, patio, or garden.