A tough tree from China with good drought tolerance, this species offers good spreading shade and great autumn colours.

Uses and features:

• a medium to small feature tree to 15m suitable for city gardens, street trees, parks and farms
• very graceful and spreading branches with pinnate, compound leaves
• Autumn colours, of fiery reds, are very reliable, even in milder districts
• the root system is strong and fibrous
• fast growth at first then medium with age
• the European species, P. vera, has the edible nuts.
• Chinese pistacia has small red flowers and blue fruits that are not conspicuous
• prefers full sun

Pistacia grow best in free draining, deep soils, but will tolerate clay and sands well, but not grow as large in them, usually to only 7m on Canberra clays or Melbourne sands.