The parent species is native to China (Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Henan, Hebei, Hunan, Hubei, Gansu, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Shanxi, Shandong, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Xizang, Hainan); Taiwan; Philippines (Luzon).
A fruitless male clone, P. chinensis ‘Keith Davey,’ is a 35-foot high tree with a crown diameter of 30 feet. Chinese pistache has moderate growth and is relatively long-lived. It tolerates many soil types and water conditions, even poor alkaline soils and nearby lawns as long as the soil is well-drained. Its deep, non-aggressive roots make it a sturdy tree in the wind and a safe selection near patios and sidewalks. A young Chinese pistache is gawky and often lacks a strong central leader and benefits from structural pruning in its early years. As it matures, it develops a rounded crown with an umbrella-like canopy. Not only is an established Chinese pistache heat and drought-tolerant (perfect for Sonoma County’s hot, dry summers), it is winter-hardy to 20º and it is pest and fire resistant.
This gorgeous male Chinese Pistachio was bred for a better branch pattern, providing a cleaner, more uniform plant perfect for growing along streets and sidewalks. Sporting brilliant fall foliage of orange and burgundy, it is a handsome tree that eventually reaches a majestic size. Keith Davey offers dark green foliage from spring through summer, then acquires bright hues for autumn. This is a very reliable tree, with good resistance to drought,heat, and wind. Typically untroubled by deer and rabbits (even when young), this Chinese Pistache needs very little maintenance. And since it produces no fruit, it remains neat and tidy. Although the parent species has been promoted by the nursery industry for at least 30 years, a new cultivar (male, seedless) is now being promoted as an alternative to female trees. The parent species, Chinese pistache, is a very popular ornamental tree because of its reddish leaves and fruits in the fall. It is among the five or ten most commonly planted trees in Californian cities. It was introduced to California about 90 years ago, but it has been planted more often recently. Native to China, Taiwan and the Philippines, the species was mentioned in the first edition of The Jepson Manual (1993), but, surprisingly, not in the second (2012).