{"slug":"pistacia-chinensis","scientific_name":"Pistacia chinensis","common_names":["Chinese pistache","Chinese pistachio"],"family":"Anacardiaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":10,"mature_spread_m":8,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[6,9],"sun":"full","water":"low","soil":"Adaptable to most soils and pH; needs good drainage; tolerates heat, drought and alkaline soil","native_range":"China and East Asia; widely planted in the southern and western US and escaping into natural areas","description":"A tough, heat- and drought-proof shade tree (30-35 feet) with fine compound leaves that turn fiery orange and red in fall even in Texas, which made it a nursery favorite and a common Austin street tree. Female trees bear clusters of red berries that birds spread, and it is now invading ranchland, woodlands and creek corridors in Central Texas. It is listed in the Texas Invasives database but not by the Texas Department of Agriculture or the City of Austin.","care":"If you plant it, choose a male, fruitless cultivar such as Keith Davey so it cannot seed into natural areas, and stake and prune young trees, which are awkward and lopsided for several years. Water the first two summers, then it needs little. Few pests; verticillium wilt is a rare problem. Many Texas native plant groups now recommend against it; Texas red oak, Lacey oak and cedar elm give fall color without the risk.","benefits":["fall_color","drought_tolerant","shade","long_lived"],"uses":[],"cautions":["invasive_elsewhere","messy_fruit"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Pistacia_chinensis.jpg","image_credit":", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PICH4","https://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=PICH4","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pistacia-chinensis/","https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=275957"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/pistacia-chinensis","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/pistacia-chinensis.md","regions":[{"country":"CN","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native to China and East Asia","source_url":null},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Los Angeles","status":"recommended","note":"On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List","source_url":"https://www.cityplants.org/street-tree-species-list/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Sacramento","status":"recommended","note":"On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list","source_url":"https://sactree.org/best-trees-for-sacramento/"},{"country":"US","region":"CO","locality":"Denver","status":"recommended","note":"On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/747/documents/forestry/Street_tree_guide.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Dallas","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List","source_url":"https://dallas.gov/departments/sustainabledevelopment/buildinginspection/DCH%20documents/pdf/BI_Approved%20Tree%20List.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Houston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/StreetTree_files/StreetTree.xlsx"},{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"invasive","note":"Texas Invasives reports it introduced in AL, CA and TX; NC State notes escapes in NC, GA, AL, AR, CA, OK and TX","source_url":"https://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=PICH4"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"invasive","note":"Listed in the Texas Invasives (texasinvasives.org) plant database. Texas Invasives: 'Chinese pistache has been seen invading natural areas in Central Texas' including ranchland and riparian areas; reported across the state. Not on the TDA noxious list and not named on City of Austin lists.","source_url":"https://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=PICH4"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}