The genus Pistachio contains some excellent trees and shrubs ideally suited to a dry climate garden, due to their low water requirements, hardiness to pests and disease, and general ease of cultivation and care. Most famous of course is the tree, Pistacia vera, which produces the celebrated Pistachio nut. However a number of other species, while not producing edible fruit, are nonetheless fine ornamentals which associate well with other plants in the garden. Let's start with the Pistache nut.

Pistacia vera is a small tree that grows wild in South-West and Central Asia, in places where the average annual rainfall is around 300mm. This figure constitutes the minimum precipitation that trees require. So in areas which receive 400-500 mm per year, like the Eastern Mediterranean, established plants can be grown without irrigation, although occasional deep watering will improve growth and fruit production. The species is dioecious, meaning that female and male reproductive organs are separated on different individuals. In order to produce fruit therefore, both a male and female tree must be planted near each other.

The ornamental trees are typified by slow growth, wide canopies, and a height after many years, of some 15-20 meters. Chinese Pistachio, Pistacia chinensis, is deciduous, supplying lovely fall color even in places that incur light frosts. Two species worth considering from the Eastern Mediterranean are the evergreen P.paelestina, and the semi-evergreenP.atlantica. The latter is particularly long lived - specimens as old as 900 years are not unknown.

One of the most useful landscape bushes at the disposal of the Mediterranean gardener is the mastic plant, Pistacia lentiscus. Its small, delicate leaves give it a fine texture, making it suitable as a trimmed hedge, but looks best as a loosely shaped shrub. It goes well with fine-textured species of Sumac(Rhus) and other shrubs whose foliage is small and delicate. The foliage color is a rather dull green, and therefore functions as a good transition plant between shrubs whose leaf color differs from each other.

About the author

My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi. I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to share my knowledge and experience with you. So you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com