# Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis)

> 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.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/pistacia-chinensis · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Chinese pistachio
- Family: Anacardiaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, loses its leaves in winter
- Mature height: 10 m; spread 8 m
- Growth: Medium growth
- USDA hardiness zones: 6 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Low water
- 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

**Benefits:** Fall color, Drought tolerant, Shade, Long lived

**Watch out for:** Invasive elsewhere, Messy fruit

## 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.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** China (Native to China and East Asia)
- **Invasive:** United States (Texas Invasives reports it introduced in AL, CA and TX; NC State notes escapes in NC, GA, AL, AR, CA, OK and TX); TX, United States (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.)
- **Recommended:** Los Angeles, CA, United States (On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List); Sacramento, CA, United States (On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list); Denver, CO, United States (On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List); Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List); Houston, TX, United States (On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List)

## 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