Last updated on April 2nd, 2025 at 07:06 am
Chinese Pistache Trees Southwest landscaping (Pistacia chinensis). The Chinese Pistache tree (non-bearing) is Probably one of the best trees to plant in and around the Southwest. It is a small to medium-sized ornamental tree and of course, it is native to China. A very drought tolerant hardy tree for regions where rainwater is low but still want a good hardy tree for shade or ornamental landscape. It is related to the nut-bearing pistachio tree but will not produce nuts.
Male Chinese Pistache trees usually develop a more reddish color, but it’s tricky to tell males and females apart when you’re shopping at most nurseries. Early on, they can look a bit awkward and lanky during their first two or three years after being planted. But once they hit four or five years, they really start to fill out and develop that nice, umbrella-shaped canopy that people love. Plus, they’re super drought-tolerant, which makes them a great choice if you’re looking for a low-maintenance tree that can handle dry conditions.
The perfect tree for your backyard
Well, there is no such thing as a “perfect tree” but this one gets pretty close for Southwest landscaping. It will eventually grow up to 40-50 ft. tall and 35 ft. wide. It is a moderate grower and drought-tolerant tree but will grow much faster if you water it more often. Chinese Pistache tree produces a beautiful well-rounded canopy perfect for shade or ornamental landscape. It is a disease and insect-resistant tree and hardy down to -20 ° F. It can also tolerate the Southwest’s alkaline soils.
City and state landscaping officials around the southwest love using this tree because of its endurance, easy care, and tolerance for high-traffic areas. In addition to its ease and care it produces long-lasting bright bronze/red foliage during the autumn seasons.
It is a moderate to fast-growing ornamental tree that will provide shade during the summer, spring, and fall seasons. An exceptionally good tree that is well adapted to the Southwest USA region.
Types of Chinese Pistache Trees
There are several varieties of these trees. The female will produce red berries during the fall. These berries are not edible for human consumption however birds love them.
The “Kieth Davey” is a good specimen tree for bright red fall color. Branches form nicely shaped, pinnately divided foliage. The leaves will turn brilliant dark orange to scarlet red color. The Kieth Davey Chinese Pistache is strictly a male tree and will not produce red berries in the fall. A great tree for medium to large backyards for shade and fall color. You can see a photo of this tree at Monrovia.com
The Red Push is another variety that grows larger and will also produce red foliage color in mid-fall.
Southwest Trees for desert areas. Fall Colors in the Southwest.
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