Written and edited by Tammy 15th May 2023
If a splash of colour was a requirement for the Adelaide side entrance to our town, then planting a row of Chinese Pistachios has definitely ticked that box. You can't help but slow down to admire the gorgeous display of Autumn colour from oranges through to flame red as you drive past them.
Chinese Pistachio
Chinese Pistachio pistacia chinensis-native to Western China, are deciduous ornamentals. The leaves comprise around half a dozen pairs of opposing long slender smaller leaves that start out a lush, lime green in Spring then go out in a blaze of glory in Autumn. Female trees also produce brightly coloured clusters of inedible berries that create another point of interest.
They are relatively quick to establish, reaching heights of up-to 8-10 meters tall and equally as wide. You will need to prune them as they're establishing to achieve symmetry and ultimately a lovely, rounded shade tree.
Make sure you give them a full sun aspect, and water them regularly as they're establishing in the first season. They like to send their roots down nice and deep and once they do so you'll find them to be relatively drought hardly needing next to no supplementary watering.
Chinese Pistachios are not fussy with their soil preferences providing it's relatively moist and free draining. All in all, a lovely small to medium feature tree or perfect for lining an avenue.
Claret Ash
Now I can't not mention the Claret Ash trees fraxinus oxycarpa 'raywood ' that you would've noticed establishing well in the same location beside the pistachios.
Their cool claret red through to mauve shades in Autumn are equally as eye catching.
They are large trees though reaching heights of in excess of 15 meters tall and 10 meters wide, so you will need to allow them plenty of space and of course keep them a good distance away from buildings and structures.
Similarly, to the pistachios, the ash tree also has multiples of soft fine small leaves. They don't bare berries, but they do produce, then go on to shed thousands of little seed pods.
Tolerative of most soil types providing it's free draining, they're relatively low maintenance and like the pistachios, are drought tolerant once established.
The Chinese Pistachios and Claret Ash are just two of many many beautiful deciduous ornamental trees that grow well here in our region.
Give them plenty of room to grow in full sun and, water them thoroughly and regularly while they are establishing, and you shouldn't have any troubles.
If these two don't tickle your fancy you could consider a few of these.
Ornamental plums Prunus cerasifera
Ornamental pears Pyrus
Crab apples Malus sylvestris
Silver birch Betula pendula
London Planes Platanus
Honestly these are only a few other that you will see growing well here everywhere around our town and throughout our region. That in itself tells you something, clearly, they'd be good options to consider.
It's going to come down to the space and location you're wanting to fill, and your own personal preference for styles and colours.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like to know a little more about any of these trees I've mentioned or even anything else you might have heard of or seen.
Have a wonderful Monday, and as always
Happy Gardening! 😘🌸🌼🌸🌼
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