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Chinese Pistache

A deciduous round-headed tree with heavy arching branches which spread widely from a short, stout trunk. Native to China, Taiwan and the Philippine Islands.

Scientific Name:

Pistacia chinensis

Mature Height:

30 - 50'

Mature Spread:

30 - 50'

Leaves:

10 - 16 paired leaflets, 2 - 4" long by 3/4" wide. Bright green in summer. orange, scarlet, crimson or yellow in the fall.

Flowers:

Inconspicuous.

Fruit:

Clusters of small red berries, turning dark blue, on female trees only.

Root System:

No large surface roots.

Growth Rate:

Moderate.

Cultural Notes:

Tolerates a variety of soils, prefers good drainage and infrequent waterings.

Sacramento Specimen:

Along the north side of Fair Oaks Blvd., east of Madison Ave.

Parking lot near Juvenile Hall on Branch Center Road

SMUD grounds and median strip on Garfield Avenue between Winding Way and Madison Avenue.

Minimum Planting Distances

• from SMUD pad mounted equipment (such as a transformer mounted on a concrete pad): 8 feet
• from a building foundation: 15 feet
• from walks and driveways: 6 feet
• from an air conditioner: 6 feet
• from a fence: 6 feet
• from a utility offset (such as an underground line, pipe or cable): 6 feet
• from a utility overhead (such as an overhead power line): 20 feet
• from a swimming pool: 12 feet
• from a septic system: 20 feet
• between trees*: 25 feet

* To calculate the planting distance between different size trees, add the distances between each species in the column and divide answer in half. Example: the distance between a Red Maple (large tree) and Amur Maple (small tree) is calculated: 25 feet + 15 feet = 40 feet ÷ 2 = 20 feet. The distance between these two different size trees should be 20 feet.