Pistacia chinensis

Pistacia chinensis Details

Commonly known as the Chinese Pistache, this is a medium sized, deciduous tree grown for its impressive form and autumn colours. The finely divided leaves emerge a fresh green in spring, age to become darker green, then develop stunning shades of yellow, red, and orange in autumn before falling. Small, inconspicuous flowers in summer may result in dark red berries which become visible once the leaves have fallen. It grows with a rounded habit to about 10 m tall and 6 m wide and can be trimmed as necessary. Best performance with this tree is achieved when it is planted in full sun on a well-drained, semi-sheltered site. It is tolerant of dry periods, frost, and cool climates. The Chinese Pistache is commonly used for avenue planting, grown as a specimen, used as a backdrop for smaller plants, or added to a mixed planting in a larger garden.