Pistacia chinensis (English: Chinese pistache;[2] Chinese: 黄連木; pinyin: huángliánmù)

Chinese Pistache was a very welcome addition to the horticultural plant palette in central Oklahoma. It just has so many qualities going for it that Oklahoma gardeners needed in a medium sized shade tree. It is:
... a reliable source for brilliant orange to red-orange fall color. It will develop good red fall color as far south as Orlando, FL and in the low-elevation deserts of Southern Arizona
... tolerant of a wide range of urban conditions
... very drought resistant once established
... very deep rooted
... very tolerant of extreme heat
... tolerant of low humidity and drying winds
... tolerant of transplant stress
... tolerant of full sun... intolerant of shade
... a good choice as a street tree
... nearly disease and insect free
... capable of an excellent growth rate when given good care
... a tree with very hard, durable and decay-resistant wood... so it is very wind and ice and vandal resistant

There is one very serious concern if the gardener happens to be a lawn fanatic who will spray anything necessary to maintain a perfect lawn. Chinese Pistache is exceptionally sensitive to triazine and sulfonylurea-type herbicides.

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Chinese Pistache has beautiful fall color, and is heat & drought tolerant. It has a moderate growth rate with a nice shape at maturity when grown in full sun. It has few pests, but can get Verticillium wilt (rare) & Phytophthora root rot .

Female trees produce berries that can generate a large number of seedlings if a male tree is living in proximity for wind pollination. In light of this, you might consider planting only male trees such as 'Keith Davey,' a fruitless male clone.

Reported to be invasive in some counties of states such as Texas, California, Oklahoma, Alabama & North Carolina.

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