Pistacia chinensis     
Chinese pistache   
Anacardiaceae Family     

Form: broad crowned tree
Seasonality: deciduous
Size: 30ft with spread 2/3 height; moderate growth rate

leaf form

Leaves: alternate, pinnate, 4-6in long leaves, somewhat lanceolate leaflets 1.5-2in long 1/2in wide; no terminal leaflet; bright green in summer turning attractive bright red color in fall
Flowers: dioecious; aromatic, green to red, in loose panicles
Fruit: female plants have clusters of peppercorn-like seeds, red turning to purplish black
Stems/Trunks: attractive, fissured, gray
Range/Origin: Central and Western China
Hardiness: to low teens

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• on the large side of residential scale
• parks, public places
• deciduous, seasonal shade/sun

Pistacia chinensis

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun
• Water: heat and drought tolerant; 1-2 deep irrigations per month in hottest season
• Soil: tolerant, best in uniform
• Propagation: seed
• Maintenance: low; seed drop on female trees can be messy

NOTES:

aka Chinese mastic tree

Fall leaf color varies between specimens, purchase when in fall color to get desired color

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This page was first created July 5, 2001 and last modified June 1, 2006.

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email to: tmoore1@flash.net

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