Pistacia chinensis, commonly called the Chinese pistache or the Chinese pistachio, is a species of tree in the cashew family of Anacardiaceae native to China. Pistacia chinensis are drought tolerant, easy to grow, and relatively pest free, making them popular as ornamental plants. The leaves are deciduous, alternate, and pinnate, usually bearing 10 to 12 leaflets, and are a lustrous green, turning fiery orange or red in fall. They can grow up to 65 feet tall at maturity. Pistacia chinensis are dioecious plants, meaning the plants do not produce both male and female flowers on the same plant. Both a male and a female plant need to be growing in close proximity to each other in order for fruitset to occur. The fruits are red, turning blue when ripe and contain a single seed. In China, the oil extracted from the seeds is sometimes used in biodiesel production. Pistacia chinensis are oftentimes used as rootstock for Pistacia vera (the commercially produced pistachio). USDA hardiness zones 6 through 9.
Pistacia chinensis seeds require a period of cold stratification to germinate reliably. Soak the seeds in room temperature water for 24 to 48 hours, then place the seeds in a plastic bag with a small amount of moist, but not soaking wet, sterile potting medium (sand, perlite, vermiculite, etc.). Place the bag of seeds in a refrigerator for 2 to 3 months. After the cold stratification is complete, plant the seeds ¼ inch deep in a well draining potting soil and keep moist, but not soaking wet. Keep the seeds between 75°F and 80°F for best results. Germination typically takes 1 to 2 months to occur. Even with optimal conditions, germination may be slow and sporadic.
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All packages will be shipped with basic customs information such as; HS codes, VAT numbers, and properly labeled contents. Unfortunately, The Garden of Set is unable to provide phytosanitary certificates for orders at this time. It is the buyer’s responsibility to know local laws regarding the import of plants, seeds, and plant products into their country. It is also up to the buyer to provide any other customs forms or information required to import plants into their country. If packages get stopped by customs, The Garden of Set will not be able to provide a refund for the purchase. Most of the time packages make it to their destinations just fine, this is for the small minority of packages that get stopped without having all the proper customs information required by the country of import. Purchase at your own discretion.