The Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is a tough medium-sized ornamental shade tree. When it is young it looks quite awkward and can be somewhat unattractive, however, it is worth the wait to see this tree mature. It develops an umbrella-shaped crown with upright and arching branches that form a rounded oval crown. It can be very gracefully symmetrical if pruned when young. The leaves are compound and glossy green with 10-12 leaflets. This tree has brilliant fall color, exploding into shades of bright orange and red and is one of the top displays in the autumn landscape. Also emerging in autumn are the red fruits that mature to midnight blue. After the leaves drop, the exfoliating bark is revealed and provides nice winter interest.
The Chinese Pistache is native to central and western China and Taiwan. It is found in the wild growing in hilly and mountain forests with rockier soils up to 12,000 feet in elevation. This is a very tough tree. It is drought and pollution resistant, easy to transplant, and pest free. This makes it a popular urban tree that can be planted in parks and streets as long as there is room for its lustrous canopy to spread. It also makes a great specimen and shade tree for a yard that needs some cheering up. It does best in full sun and can grow in a wide variety of soil types.
