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 Mediterranean hybrid.
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 other climatic 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 suburban tract home, it will almost certainly outgrow its space.
This is definitely not a low-litter tree. Be prepared to clean up leaves every fall.
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 where its leaves can clog your gutters.
Red Push Pistache:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Red push pistache |
| Scientific Name | Pistacia x ‘Red Push’ |
| Origin | Asia, Middle East (hybrid) |
| Plant Type | Deciduous tree |
| USDA Zones | Zones 7 – 11 |
| Cold Hardy | To 0℉ |
| Flower Color | Inconspicuous |
| Mature Size | 40’ high x 30’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered Resistant to Verticillium wilt |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-allergenic |
| Wildlife | Leaves toxic to horses |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub or 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 grace your yard 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 a related 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 integerrima.
P. atlantica is a rugged tree found in north Africa, southern Europe, and the Middle East. P integerrima, also known as mastic tree, originates in the Mediterranean and is a popular landscape tree in its own right.
Red push pistache is in the same genus as pistachio trees (Pistache vera), but does not produce edible nuts.
One additional feature of this hybrid is that it’s resistant to Verticillium wilt. In fact, most commercial pistachio trees are now grown on red push rootstock, because this makes them wilt-resistant.
Have you grown this plant?
Was it a “hit” or a “miss” in your garden?
Please share your experience in the comments below!
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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 15 years.
Additional Reference
Photo Credits
“Pistache tree- Red push” by Monkeystyle3000 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Hi Deane,
Great article! We’re looking at red push pistache…possibly 2 (front & back yards). Are the fruits messy, as the olive tree we are trying to replace with fall colors trees? Olive tree tracked & stains into the house with 2 dogs and adults?
Las Vegas residence.
Thanks,
Rod
Hi Rod, The berries are pretty dry and not messy like olives, so I would not let that put you off. Additionally, if you check with your local nurseries, you may be able to find one that carries male trees that won’t have berries.
Enjoyed the information regarding my two year old Pistacia X “Red Push”. It has not turned red or orange yet, but I hope that will happen the fall.
Thanks,
Harris Brinson
It’s been an unusually warm fall, so it might be a little behind schedule. There’s a cold snap coming, so the color change could start soon!