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Great Design Plant: Chinese Pistache
Versatile and easygoing, this tree puts on a guaranteed fall spectacle in the landscape
Houzz Contributor. I grew up with a love for California's valleys, hills, and mountains -- and native plants. I've been a magazine editor/writer for my whole career, and was editor in chief of Sunset and Garden Design magazines.
Houzz Contributor. I grew up with a love for California's valleys, hills,... More »
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This is a very reliable tree with one true gift — sort of a Susan Boyle of the arboreal world. That gift is brilliant fall color: orange, red, sometimes yellow. For most of the year, Chinese pistache is so understated and well behaved (no messy fruit, broken branches, leaf drop) that no one notices it. It’s a medium-size deciduous tree, generally with a roundish top — extremely versatile in home landscapes.
Keep in mind that pistache’s good behavior is not universal. While it is a street tree recommended by the city of San Jose, California, it is considered an undesirable invasive plant in parts of Texas and elsewhere. Check locally before planting.
Keep in mind that pistache’s good behavior is not universal. While it is a street tree recommended by the city of San Jose, California, it is considered an undesirable invasive plant in parts of Texas and elsewhere. Check locally before planting.
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| Botanical name: Pistacia chinensis Common name: Chinese pistache USDA zones: 6 to 9 (find your zone) Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Moderate, but this tree is flexible enough to accept light to heavy watering Mature size: 30 to 60 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide Tolerances: No major problems; resists oak root fungus |
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| Distinguishing traits. Pistache is unmistakable in fall, when its leaves turn a brilliant orange or red, sometimes yellow. It's often the most vivid autumn show in much of California, and this tree does well in other mild climates — even in the Southwest desert. |
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| Red berries on female trees add to the fall color display; they turn blue in winter. They're not edible, unlike the nuts of the related pistachio tree. |
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| How to use it. You can grow pistache in a variety of situations: on a lawn, as a small patio tree, as a street tree in a parking strip, in a grove of three or more. A mature tree can serve as a substantial shade tree, as shown here in Davis, California, where good soil along with abundant water and heat encourages robust tree growth. Growing tips. Pistache is not fussy about soil or water, but fall color usually is more pronounced in drier conditions. It's a bit slow to get going; start with a larger nursery tree if you’re in a hurry. Prune it during winter to shape it and control the size. |
Ideabook updated on Dec. 3, 2012.
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http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=PICH4
Picture is of the neighborhood street lined with these trees in Modesto. They used to canopy the street with shade until they "whack" them because of power lines, and phone lines about every 4 yrs. You'll see one side severely pruned, and the other is not. They go in pruning cycles, and who has priority rights.
http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=PICH4