Description:
NAME: Pistachio Tree
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pistacia Vera
COLOR: Red Flowers / Yellow - Red Pistachios
PLANT SEEDS: Fall
sow seeds or cold stratify
BLOOM TIME: Spring
HARVEST: Fall
HARDINESS ZONE: 7
- 11
PLANT HEIGHT: 20
- 30'
PLANT SPACING: 20'
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Sun
SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES: Average - Dry
QUANTITY: 5 Seeds
OTHER: The Pistachio Tree is the
source of the incredibly popular edible Pistachio Nut. Pistacia Vera is native to
parts of Asia & the Middle East, but is now grown commercially in many
parts of the world. The trees are slow growing, & typically only reach 20'
at most in cultivation. This desert plant tolerates drought well, & enjoys
hot sunny conditions.
The beautiful spring flower clusters turn to showy clusters
of fruit. The hard shelled seeds of the fruit are pistachios, & they can be
eaten raw or cooked. Add them to salads, in soups & stir fries, with fish
or poultry dishes, countless deserts, or as an ice cream topping :)
From Wikipedia: The
seed, commonly thought of as a nut, is a culinary nut, not a botanical nut. The
fruit has a hard, creamish exterior shell. The seed has a mauvish skin and
light green flesh, with a distinctive flavor. When the fruit ripens, the shell
changes from green to an autumnal yellow/red, and abruptly splits part way open.
So, the nuts naturally open when they are mature, & this
is when they should be harvested. The plants are dioecious, so both male &
female plants are needed for pollination. The trees are very showy with
beautiful red buds & flowers, as well as the many color changing fruit that
has lovely shades. Wildlife will enjoy eating the pistachios too if you are
kind enough to leave some for them :)
*** Visit our store for many more fruit & nut tree seeds like Nutmeg, Hazelnut, Apples, & more!
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