  Photo courtesy of UC Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center. Pistacia vera. Native to Asia Minor, pistachio trees have been grown for thousands of years for their succulent nuts. Pistachios are dioecious, so you need a male tree and a female tree for nut formation. We offer our trees as a female/male pair. Kerman, the female, is named for the region in Iran where most of the world’s pistachios grow. Peters, the male, pollenizes up to 10 female trees. It is the weaker grower, so when you receive your pair of trees, you can immediately identify the male. Pistachios are slow-growing. At maturity they are about 25’ x 25’, with a picturesque, multi-trunk silhouette. Our trees will start producing in about 5 years, and expect alternate bearing. A mature female tree bears about 50 pounds of nuts per season. Pistachio trees require long, hot summers and cool winters, with at least 800 hours below 45 degrees F. Hardy to about 15 degrees. Calcareous soils are preferred. Full sun, good drainage,and deep but infrequent watering are necessary cultural requirements. Our pistachios are grown on UBC-1 rootstock, which is resistant to the 2 biggest enemies of pistachios, Verticillium wilt and oak root fungus. Nevertheless, avoid planting pistachio trees in locations where soil is infected with these organisms. Despite the challenges, which include a 90% graft failure rate on the propagation bench, pistachios repay every attention. Orders received by 5 pm Friday ship the following Monday, weather permitting. Shipping charges: 25% to CA, 30% to OR and WA, 40% to rest of continental U.S. Shipping charges are applied at check-out. |