Pistacia chinensis Seed

The chinese Pistache is a wonderful shade tree with vibrant fall color. Native to china and the Philippines, it is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. It is remarkably tolerant of aridity, heat and alkaline soil. Its dark green foliage and umbrella top provide excellent shade on hot summer days. The tree grows to about 40 feet high with a 35 foot spread. Small white, innocuous flowers appear in the spring. On the female tree, berry-shaped fruit appears in clusters, turning a bright red color in winter. The leaves turn a vibrant red to orange color in late fall, making the Chinese Pistache tree a reliable favorite for fall color.

Even though it makes a fabulous Bonsai, you will need to plant this one in large residential or commercial landscapes where it has room to grow and will receive plenty of sunlight. With time and proper care, the Chinese Pistache tree will become more beautiful. Its canopy develops slowly and takes four to six years to mature.