Chinese pistache
Pistacia chinensis · Anacardiaceae
📷 Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around chinese pistache and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, compound, bright green turning red-orange in autumn
- Flowering
- April to May, small discreet red-purple flowers
- Mature size
- 10 m tall, rounded and spreading habit
- Growth
- Moderate to fast under favourable conditions
- Hardiness
- Good, tolerating temperatures down to -15°C
- Origin
- China, very hardy and adapted to temperate zones
- Fruits
- Small red-orange drupes at maturity, highly ornamental
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Pistacia chinensis requires solid staking for the first five years and formative pruning of the main branches. Without proper support, storms can cause irreversible damage to this brittle wood.
The common mistake
Planting too deep or failing to respect the natural pyramidal shape.
The pro's trick
In years 3-4, establish three or four well-spaced main branches along the trunk.
Care
Watering
In the first year, water regularly to promote root establishment, then gradually reduce. Once established, Chinese pistache tolerates drought well and only needs watering during prolonged dry spells. Avoid excess moisture which can promote root rot.
Exposure
Plant this tree in direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours a day to ensure beautiful flowering and spectacular autumn colouring. A sunny position also strengthens its vigour and disease resistance.
Soil
Chinese pistache appreciates well-drained soil, even poor or chalky. It adapts to a wide range of pH levels and tolerates dry soils. Add compost at planting, but no further input is necessary afterwards if it has been well prepared.
Pruning and training
No pruning is really necessary; this tree naturally adopts a beautiful shape. Prune lightly after flowering if you wish to reduce size or remove poorly oriented branches. Avoid severe pruning which weakens the tree.
Fertiliser
No fertiliser is essential once the tree is established. At planting, incorporate well-decomposed compost. Mature trees don't need it, except if the soil is particularly depleted.
Diseases and pests
Chinese pistache is very robust and rarely subject to serious diseases. In excessively humid conditions, watch for root rot. A few insects may attack it without causing major damage. Good hygiene and sunny exposure are generally sufficient to prevent problems.
Did you know?
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is highly valued in East Asia for its extraordinary autumn colours: the foliage changes from emerald green to vibrant red-orange, rivalling the most flamboyant maples. Although related to the common pistachio tree which produces edible pistachios, its fruits remain ornamental and inedible for humans, but they generously attract birds in autumn and winter.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Mastic treePistacia lentiscus
- Staghorn sumacRhus typhina
- Smoke treeCotinus coggygria
- Peruvian peppertreeSchinus molle
- PistachioPistacia vera
- Mt. Atlas mastic treePistacia atlantica
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.