My beautiful Chinese Pistache Tree (Summer vs Fall)

[@BexareagleCheryl]

We have these in our backyard - started about 20 years ago just out of the blue. Now we have about 25 of these in our backyard in various sizes. Many over 20-30 feet. They just pop up. This year (late 2023), the large ones that are over 18 feet have grown berries for the first time. Not red though. And the pods are kind of messy on the deck. Squirrels love them though and will spend the day breaking open and eating the meat inside. These provide great shade and privacy during summer and fall. I have never known the name of the tree until this video. Like another poster here I am in San Antonio, Tx as well and the pistache trees thrive along side my many live oaks. Seems they like the bit of shade the oaks provide in their early growing years. The fall leaves don’t last too long though. Enjoy while you can.

[@sheri023]

That almost sounds like a volunteer almond tree. Mine make a mess with leaves and dropped almonds. You said the squirrels break them open, so I thought it could be an almond. I have a volunteer female pistache too and the berries don't usually drop.

[@serenababy6358]

Thank you for the tree update!

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

My pleasure ☺️

[@maryhernandez1978]

That is a gorgeous tree!

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

Thx. It sure is! I can’t wait to see what it will look like by thanksgiving this time around

[@littlerainyone]

I *think* we have a pistache growing behind our AC and so we'd like to transplant it to the backyard. Everyone is telling us not to do it now because of the Summer heat. Do you agree that we need to wait for Fall?

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

Mmmm I have 2 questions 1) how established is this tree? The thing about transplanting is that the older and bigger they are, the harder for them to do adapt after a transplant. It's almost like you have to babysit them to make sure they don't resent you too much. 2) How hot is it now where you live? In my area, it is so hot I would have to water daily and check on it consistently to make sure it will make it. Best time to transplant is always right before they go dormant, fall or winter when dormant or spring before they leaf out. Truth be told, I've transplanted during all seasons but my plants struggle less when the weather isn't so hot. Lots of considerations here.

[@chindachoeurndicob8722]

I have a huge Chinese pistache in my front yard. Planted sixty years ago by the city. It's the female and I have a big flower bed around it. Mostly are succulents and other drought tolerant plants. Planted them 7 years ago and they are very lush. The tree doesn't seem to be bothered by them at all. Also I want to add that the young leaves of the Chinese pistache are edible. My mom likes to pick the young ones to eat in her Asian dishes.

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

I’m so happy you shared this. Thank you!

[@pc0086]

I feel like that your are my most twin on the plants, we both love hydrangeas, propagating them. Even trees in our yards!! I have the Chinese pistache tree in my front yard, also the ginko baloba😄. They are just gorgeous trees. Do you have Sango kaku coral bark Japanese maple tree?? Look it up, and you will love it too. I have one in my back yard between my limelight and limelight prime. It's a fun tree to grow.

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

Hehehe, how awesome! And ooooh I’m gonna look it up. I’ve been thinking about adding more trees as an understory under the pines. That might be a good one. I’ll look into it. Thank you!!!

[@raulaarreola3926]

Hi good morning were get it .

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

I got mine at a plant nursery in Atlanta called Pike Nursery. Check your local nurseries first by calling and asking if they have it or if they can get it. Otherwise, you can check online for providers like Fastgrowingtrees.com. I’m not an affiliate. I do have a video that shares my experience buying from them if you want to learn more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/honUfYRnnJyGjJosi=e8gz6wQiyP1flAB2

[@cat96949]

How old is the tree at the time that of making this video?

[@SR-sk6py]

How to water the chines pistach ?

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

I always water heavily when I first plant kind of baby sitting it for the first month … but now, Nature just takes over since it’s settled. I fertilize once or twice per year. Hope that helps

[@MajidxonBekxojayev]

Илтимос.шу писта уругидан почта оркали жуната оласизми.олдиндан рахмат сизга.

[@christianbarron1418]

How do you prune this tree?

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

I haven’t pruned this yet but if I ever do, I will wait until the leaves have dropped and it’s dormant. For me that will be around December bc I’m in a subtropical area. Around thanksgiving it will be bright red and beautiful. So after that happens, I would. I never cut back a bush or a tree more than a 1/3 of it’s limb size. Then I would wait until the spring to see how we are doing and if I need to trim again. If so, I would wait until the next December. Hope that helps! If you trim it, please let me know how it goes. Thanks!

[@staceylam762]

Keith Davey is the male pisache without fruit

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

Correct, male pistache has no fruit. I believe mine is a male but we’ve seen no flowers of any kind so far. The leaves do turn a pretty red around Thanksgiving time.

[@NathanielDowell]

This is a beautiful tree, but it's NOT a good tree for the US. It's invasive. We have one in my neighborhood in San Antonio, and I have tons of seedlings popping up in my yard from a block over. We have a ton of beautiful native trees and they should always be selected over non-natives. Aside from the invasiveness, non-natives do not support local wildlife and insects the way natives do. Natives have an eons long relationship with their environment, and that includes pollinators (butterflies) that use them as larval hosts. The Chinese Pistache has those relationships on the other side of the world, not here. Our suburban neighborhoods typically bulldoze high quality native ecosystems and replace them with concrete, non-native turf grasses, shrubs, and trees. We've got species that are endangered because of habitat loss from thoughtless development. If you want to support native birds and bees, try to fill your yard with the beautiful plants that grow natively to your area.

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

Hi there! I do have a lot of native plants in my area and I’m intrigued by your comment to the point of research. I don’t take this lightly as I’m completely against invasive plants as seen in several of my videos. I hadn’t heard this before and will do my due diligence. However, do you know if you have a male or female and if it’s the same variety as mine? I don’t have any seedlings whatsoever so your comment is shocking for sure. I will be researching further. Thanks for your input

[@Sousuke48]

Its invasive in certain states like Texas. In California, it doesn't spread.

[@JamesRodgers-e4u]

THANK YOU

[@vinnilocs5782]

You’re beautiful Cynthia, only if you were single…

[@homeandlifewithcynthia]

That’s sweet. Thank you! I hope you are finding the videos useful ☺️