Deciduous, Slow growth to 60'
Drought Tolerant - Not recommended for irrigated area
Profile: Narrow leaflets, round canopy, bright red/orange fall color.
Form: Broad crowned tree
Seasonality: Deciduous
Size: 30ft with spread 2/3 height; moderate growth rate
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 large clusters of red peppercorn-like berries / Seeds, Drips Sap when in Bloom
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
Exposure: Full Sun
Water: Heat and drought tolerant; 1-2 deep irrigation per month in hottest season
Soil: Tolerant, best in uniform
Propagation: Seed
Maintenance: low; seed drop on female trees can be messy
Comment: The Chinese Pistache is a common tree found in neighborhoods in San Jose, mostly in areas where track homes were build in the early 60's, the tree is sometimes mistaken for an "Californian Pepper Tree" - Schinus molle as pictured left. 