Pistacia chinensis - Evergreen Trees Direct

Pistacia chinensis

$150.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm/33cm

30cm/33cm 40cm/45L 100L 200L 500L

Current Stock Height Guides

300mm: 0.9m – 1.3m Approx.
40cm/45L: 1.5m – 2.5m Approx.
100L: 2.2m – 3m Approx.
200L: 3m – 4m Approx.
500L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 20m

Mature Width: 10m to 20m

Pistacia chinensis is expected to grow 30cm to 70cm per year (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Pistacia chinensis

Pistacia chinensis, Chinese pistache, is a deciduous shade tree with a rounded spreading crown and glossy compound leaves. Autumn brings the display it is grown for, with the foliage turning orange, scarlet and gold, often all at once. The greyish bark is furrowed and scaly and carries the tree through winter.

It reaches 10 to 25 metres tall and 10 to 20 metres wide at a moderate rate, roughly 30 to 60 centimetres a year. Full sun and a free-draining soil are all it asks. Once established it is notably tough, taking frost, heat, drought and alkaline ground across most of temperate Australia.

Give a single tree open ground in a park, large garden, school yard or wide street reserve, or space an avenue 8 to 12 metres apart so the crowns meet properly. Small greenish flowers pass unnoticed in spring and female trees carry red fruit. A durable shade tree with a strong autumn payoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Chinese Pistache

What is Pistacia chinensis?

Chinese pistache is a deciduous shade tree with a rounded spreading crown, glossy compound leaves and greyish furrowed bark. It is a relative of the commercial pistachio but is grown here for ornament rather than for nuts. The reason it gets planted is autumn, when the foliage turns orange, scarlet and gold.

How big does Chinese Pistache grow?

It reaches 10 to 25 metres tall and 10 to 20 metres wide at full maturity, though most garden trees sit at the lower end of that range. This is a large tree, so give it open ground rather than a small courtyard, and keep it well clear of buildings, drains and overhead lines.

How fast does it grow?

Moderate, around 30 to 60 centimetres a year once established, faster in warm conditions with regular water and slower on dry sites. Young trees can look gawky and irregular for the first few years, then settle into a symmetrical rounded crown. Planting an advanced specimen shortens that awkward early stage considerably.

Is it deciduous, and when is the autumn colour?

It is deciduous and drops its leaves over winter. Autumn colour usually arrives from April to May in southern Australia and later in warmer districts, running through orange, scarlet and gold, often on the one tree. Colour is more reliable where autumn nights turn cool, and it holds for several weeks.

Is it drought and frost tolerant?

Both, and this is its main strength. Established trees take extended dry periods, high summer heat, alkaline soil and reflected heat from paving, and they are frost hardy through cold inland winters. It is one of the more dependable exotic shade trees for hot inland towns as well as coastal cities.

Where does it grow best in Australia?

It performs across temperate Australia and is widely planted in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and inland regional centres. Cooler autumns in the south give the strongest colour. It also grows in subtropical areas such as south-east Queensland, though the autumn display there is shorter and less intense. Full sun and drainage are the requirements.

How do I care for a Chinese Pistache?

Plant in full sun in free-draining soil, stake young trees while they establish and water deeply through the first two or three summers. Formative pruning in the early years helps develop a single leader and an even crown. After that it needs almost nothing beyond mulch and the occasional dead branch removed.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Street Tree
Feature Tree
Avenue Planting
Shade Tree

Pistacia chinensis works in an:

Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Pistacia chinensis Evergreen or Deciduous?

Pistacia chinensis is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 20m

Mature Width: 10m to 20m

Pistacia chinensis is expected to grow 30cm to 70cm per year (approx.).

Growth Rate of Pistacia chinensis

Pistacia chinensis is expected to grow 30cm to 70cm per year (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Pistacia chinensis

Is Pistacia chinensis frost tolerant?

Pistacia chinensis is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Does Pistacia chinensis Flower?

Pistacia chinensis produces small, inconspicuous greenish flower clusters in spring. While not ornamental, these blooms set the stage for the tree’s standout feature — its spectacular autumn foliage in shades of fiery red, orange and gold.

Does Pistacia chinensis flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

White

Is Pistacia chinensis an Australian Native Tree?

No

Pistacia chinensis is Native to Native to China and Taiwan, where it grows in dry, rocky habitats. Widely cultivated worldwide as a hardy ornamental tree renowned for its autumn colour.

What is the Wildlife Value of Pistacia chinensis ?

Its flowers attract small pollinating insects, while the colourful autumn berries provide food for birds. The broad, spreading canopy offers nesting and shelter for small birds, and the fallen leaf litter supports insects and microfauna, enhancing biodiversity in urban and parkland landscapes.

How much Sunlight does Pistacia chinensis need?

Pistacia chinensis will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Pistacia chinensis performs best in well-drained loam or sandy soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. Highly adaptable, it manages poorer, dry or compacted soils but may struggle in heavy, waterlogged clay unless improved with coarse material and organic matter to enhance drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then shift to deep, infrequent watering as the tree matures to support drought resilience, strong root development and brilliant autumn colour.

Is Pistacia chinensis Drought Tolerant?

Is Pistacia chinensis Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires regular watering, but once established Chinese Pistachio develops excellent drought tolerance. Exceptionally hardy, it thrives in hot, dry, inland and coastal climates and maintains a full canopy with only occasional deep watering during extended dry spells.

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How To Plant Your Pistacia chinensis

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Pistacia chinensis

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Pistacia chinensis is expected to grow 30cm to 70cm per year (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Pistacia chinensis

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Pistacia chinensis in Different Soil

Pistacia chinensis performs best in free-draining loam or sandy loam with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is sharp.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch lightly to moderate surface temperature.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and coarse organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline preferred. Avoid waterlogging at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the significance of Chinese Pistache's fall foliage?
The tree's vibrant autumn colors, ranging from orange to red and purple, make it a sought-after ornamental tree for fall landscapes.
Is this tree suitable for providing shade in outdoor spaces?
Yes, its spreading growth habit and broad canopy make it an excellent choice for providing shade in gardens, parks, and streets.
Does Chinese Pistache attract wildlife?
The small red fruit clusters may attract birds, adding to the biodiversity in the garden.
Can it tolerate a range of climates?
Yes, Chinese Pistache is known for its adaptability to different climates, making it a hardy and versatile tree.