Hoyt Arboretum, Portland, Oregon, USA

Common name: Chinese Pistache

Family: Anacardiaceae

Distribution: China, Taiwan, Phillipines

Habitat: Mountain forests on rocky soils to 3600m

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Hardiness: Zone 6b -5 to 0 F

Life form: Deciduous tree

Usage: Ornamental shade tree

Comments: Chinese pistache is a small deciduous tree native to China, Taiwan and the Philippines, that typically grows to 30-35’ tall with an oval rounded crown. Foliage consists of compound, even-pinnate, dark green leaves to 10” long, each leaf typically having 10-12 lanceolate leaflets to 4” long. Foliage is aromatic when bruised. Fall color is variable but often appears in quality shades of yellow, orange and red. Trees are dioecious (separate male and female trees), with flowers appearing in April in visible but somewhat inconspicuous green panicles. Pollinized flowers on female trees give rise to red-ripening-to-blue spherical fruits (drupes to 1/4” diameter) that ripen in fall. Drupes are inedible (Pistacia vera produces the edible pistachio nuts). Gray-brown bark peels to reveal salmon inner bark.
Best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade, but best in full sun. Tolerates heat, drought and a wide range of soils.