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Pistacia vera - L.

Common Name Pistachio, Pistachio Nut
Family Pistaciaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Hilly and mountainous regions, especially on sandstone soils, with a temperature range from -10°c in the winter to 40°c in the summer, to 1500 metres[200]
Range W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Pistacia vera Pistachio, Pistachio Nut


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Pistacia vera Pistachio, Pistachio Nut

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Red. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Oval, Rounded, Spreading or horizontal, Vase.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Pistacia vera is a deciduous Tree growing to 10 m (32ft 10in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Oil  Oil  Seed
Edible Uses: Oil  Oil

Seed - raw or cooked[2, 46, 61, 74]. The seed is rich in oil and has a pleasant mild flavour[2]. It is very nice when eaten raw and is also widely used in confectionery, ice cream, cakes, pies etc[183]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed but is not produced commercially due to the high price of the seed[183]. The fruits can be made into a flavourful marmalade[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Dysentery  Miscellany  Sedative  Tonic

The plant is used in China for the treatment of abdominal ailments, abscesses, amenorrhoea, bruises, chest ailments, circulation, dysentery, gynecopathy, pruritus, rheumatism, sclerosis of the liver, sores and trauma[218]. The seed is said to be sedative and tonic[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Miscellany  Oil  Oil  Resin

The seed yields up to 40% of a non-drying oil. It is not used commercially due to the high value of the seed for food[183]. Male trees yield a small quantity of a high grade resin. It is used in paints, lacquers etc[74].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Global Crop  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Other Systems: Strip intercrop  Staple Crop: Protein-oil

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Requires a sunny position in a deep well-drained light soil[200]. Succeeds in dry soils. Does well in light calcareous soils[200]. Grows well on poor soils[200]. Prefers long hot summers and low humidity[200]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain and are unlikely to succeed outdoors in any but the mildest areas of the country. They will be hardier in areas with long hot summers that will thoroughly ripen the wood. Plants are prone to fungal root rots[200]. The pistachio nut is often cultivated for its edible seed in warm temperate areas, there are many named forms[183]. It is very unlikely to produce a crop of seeds in Britain, simply because the summers here are not hot enough or long enough[K]. Any pruning that needs to be done is best carried out in the spring[238]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. One male plant for every five females is adequate[200]. Special Features: Edible, Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms.

Carbon Farming

  • Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world. The annual value of each is more than $1 billion US Examples include coconuts, almonds, and bananas.
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Other Systems: Strip intercrop  Tree crops grown in rows with alternating annual crops.
  • Staple Crop: Protein-oil  (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 16 hours in alkalized water[78], or for 3 - 4 days in warm water[1], and sow late winter in a cold frame or greenhouse[78, 113]. Two months cold stratification may speed up germination, so it might be better to sow the seed in early winter[113]. The germination is variable and can be slow. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on the plants for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving some protection from winter cold for their first year or two outdoors[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood from juvenile trees, July in a frame[113]. Layering.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Pistacia chinensisChinese Pistache, Chinese PistachioTree9.0 6-9 SLMHNDM213
Pistacia chinensis integerrima Tree9.0 -  LMHSNDM213
Pistacia lentiscusMastic Tree - Pistachier LentisqueShrub5.0 8-9 SLMHNDM222
Pistacia terebinthusTerebinth, Cyprus turpentineTree9.0 8-11 SLMNDM222

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

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Readers comment

Jasper Verhaart   Thu Jun 4 2009

Dear Sir/Madam We are very interested in Pistacia Vera samplings for a great project. We need Pistacia vera preferably form tissue cultere, if not possible from vegetative multiplication and if that is also not possible from seed. we need them in large numbers. I hope you can send me some more information or maybe you can help me to find a suplier. I look forward to recieving an answer. Kind regerd, Jasper Verhaart Aquapro Holland

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