SPECIES: Pistacia (pis-ta'shi-a, from Greek pistake, pistachio nut) chinensis (chi-nen'sis, from China; introduced 1897). P.Vera bears pistachio nuts in lower South regions.

FORM: Oval, rounded with light, open branching.

SIZE: 25-35 feet wide; 25-40 feet tall. Moderate to fast grower.

EXPOSURE: Sun

LEAVES: Deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves over winter. Glossy green foliage with 10-12 leaflets 2-4 inches long and 3/4-inches wide. Fantastic fall foliage in brilliant orange-red and sometimes yellow.

BARK: Gray, inner layers salmon-red.

FLOWERS: April, not showy. Male produces 2- to 3-inch-long racemes - spikelike stalks of many flowers on individual stems, 2-3 inches long. Female produces 7- to 9-inch-long panicles - loosely branched, pyramidal flower clusters.

FRUIT: Trees either male or female; when two sexes are near each other, female produces clusters of small red fruits that ripen to blue black.

CULTURE: Tolerates all soils. Likes good drainage, medium fertility and high to medium moisture. Tolerates wind and drought. Easily transplanted. Hardy in Zones 6-9.

USES: Outstanding tree, say local horticulturists. Good as street or lawn tree.

PRUNING: Young trees can be awkward looking; older trees develop density. Early pruning develops nice rounded shape in tree.

PROBLEMS: None