Red Push Pistache: Brilliant Fall Colors

Red push pistache is a large desert shade tree with New England-like fall colors. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this hybrid of trees native to South Asia and North Africa

Red push pistache (Pistacia x ‘Red Push’) is a large shade tree that’s a hybrid of two trees native to the dry, hot Mediterranean. Its unusual name refers to the “push” of copper-red leaves in the spring.

If you hail from more temperate regions, like many of us do, this is a tree that might remind you of “home”… wherever that may be.

This tree looks like it belongs in cooler, wetter regions, but in fact is well-suited for the desert southwest. It withstands intense heat and cold, and thrives in full desert sun with minimal irrigation.

It grows as a single-trunk tree with a round canopy, which is unusual for a desert tree. Its leaves undergo three distinct phases — copper-red in the spring, dark green in the summer, and brilliant yellow, orange, and red in the fall.

Why I Like This Plant

Large, single-trunk tree — unusual in the desert
Fast-growing shade tree
Colorful much of the year
Resistant to Verticillium wilt

Things to Watch Out For

Red push pistache will ultimately be a huge tree that needs plenty of room. If you live in a typical urban or suburban home with a small yard, it will almost certainly overwhelm its space.

This is definitely not a low-litter tree. Be prepared to clean up leaves every fall.

This is not a good choice for supporting wildlife. While birds may hang out in it, that’s this tree’s only contribution to wildlife. It is wind pollinated and therefore does not attract or feed pollinators. It is not a larval host for any species of butterfly.

And on the off chance that you have horses, be aware that the leaves are toxic to horses, but not dogs, cats, or people.

Optimal Growing Conditions

If you are thinking of adding a red push pistache to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.

Here are the key factors to keep in mind.

Temperature

Red push pistache should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 – 11. It’s tolerant of both heat and cold, withstanding temperatures down to 0℉.

Sun Exposure

Red push pistache will accept some shade but prefers growing in full sun.

Size and Growth Rate

Red push pistache is a “slow then moderate” grower. It grows slowly the first few years, but the growth rate picks up as the tree gets established.

Eventually, it will become a very large tree — approximately 40’ high by 35’ wide – so give this tree plenty of room.

Soil

Red push pistache grows well in any desert soil, provided it’s well-draining. If it stays too wet, it is prone to root rot.

Most commercial pistachio trees are
now grown on red push rootstock.
This makes them wilt-resistant.

Other Location Considerations

Red push pistache is a garden friendly tree. It has no thorns and is non-toxic, so you can feel comfortable planting it where it might come in contact with people and pets.

Don’t plant it where you don’t want debris, such as near a pool or near your house if you’ve got gutters.

Red Push Pistache:
The Essentials

Common Name	Red push pistache
Scientific Name	Pistacia x ‘Red Push’
Origin	Africa, Asia (hybrid)
Plant Type	Deciduous tree
USDA Zones	Zones 7 – 11
Cold Hardy	To 0℉
Flowers	Inconspicuous
Mature Size	40’ high x 30’ wide
Growth Rate	Slow to moderate
Sun Tolerance	Full sun
Water Needs	Low
Pests & Diseases	Root rot if overwatered Resistant to wilt
Garden Friendly	No thorns, non-allergenic
Wildlife	Toxic to horses

How to Plant

The rule of thumb when planting any tree in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.

Young red push pistache trees are often leggy and lack a strong central leader, so it’s a good idea to stake your tree for the first year or so, especially if you live in an area that’s windy.

When to Plant

The best time to plant red push pistache is in the fall. This gives your tree three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.

The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.

How to Care for Red Push Pistache

Whether you’ve recently planted a new pistache or have an existing one in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.

How to Water New Plants

Once you’ve got your tree in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new trees planted in the spring or fall.

Weeks 1 & 2	Every 3 – 4 days
Weeks 3 & 4	Every 6 – 7 days
Weeks 5 & 6	Every 7 – 10 days
Weeks 7 & 8	Every 10 – 14 days

After week 8, gradually extend the time between waterings.

How to Water Established Plants

As your tree becomes established, there are two watering factors to consider.

First is how often to water. This will vary with the seasons.
Second is how much water to give your tree with each watering. This depends on its current size.

To determine the ideal watering schedule for any desert tree, you’ll find everything you need to know, including easy-to-use charts, at How to Water Desert Trees: How Often? How Much?

Once your tree is established, it should not need supplemental water during the winter when it’s dormant.

Should You Fertilize?

There is no need to fertilize red push pistache. These trees are accustomed to growing in poor soil.

How to Prune

Red push pistache is usually sold as a single-trunk tree. Mature specimens have a symmetrical, round form, but to achieve this look, these trees need strategic pruning along the way. While the tree is young, you should be removing unwanted branches and water sprouts.

If you aren’t confident about how to create the shape you want, I strongly urge you to hire a professional. Hiring an arborist (not a so-called “landscaper”) to get your tree off to the right start is an excellent investment that will result in a beautiful tree that will bring you joy for decades to come.

Why Is the Fall Color Different Every Year?

Once you’ve had your red push pistache for a few years, you may have noticed that the fall foliage color varies from year to year. There is nothing wrong with your tree, this variation is due to how abruptly the fall turns cold.

In years when the fall temperatures are mild, the leaves will be more yellow. In years when there is a sudden cold snap, the leaves will turn more red and orange.

Don’t Confuse Red Push With…

Chinese Pistache (Pistache chinensis) is one red push’s parent plants. It is also a large ornamental shade tree that turns brilliant red and orange in the fall.

It looks similar in size and form, but has many drawbacks compared to red push pistache. It has messy fruits, doesn’t hold its fall color as long, and is susceptible to Verticillium wilt, a potentially fatal fungus disease.

Buy a Red Push Pistache from Tucson Clean & Beautiful

If you’re a resident of Tucson, you can order a red push pistache from the Tucson Clean & Beautiful Program.

They offer 5-gallon trees for $30 each that they will deliver to your house, provided you live within a 30 mile radius of downtown Tucson.

Plant Lover Facts

Red push pistache is a hybrid of Pistacia atlantica and Pistacia chinesis (formerly Pistacia integerrima). P. atlantica‘s native range is mainly in North Africa and the Middle East, while P. chinesis is native to South Asia.

As mentioned earlier, red push is resistant to Verticillium wilt. Most commercial pistachio trees (Pistache vera) are now grown on red push rootstock, because this makes them wilt-resistant.

While red push pistache is closely related to pistachio trees, it does not produce edible nuts. Here’s a picture of red push’s colorful, but inedible fruits.

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Author Bio

Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.

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