While most of us love Pistacia vera trees ( Pistacia vera ) for their scrumptiously oily freak , they can alsogrowinto appealingly decorative nicety trees . We take a close - up expression at each of their most attractive feature article as they change with the seasons – and detail what one of these feature sometimes reveals about the wellness of a tree .
Pistachio Leaves
Pistacia vera trees have compound leaves with three to five rounded , deep - immature cusp opposite each other along a primal stem . Each leaflet mensuration between 2 and 4 inches long . At the nucleotide of each leafage ( not leaflet ) is a bud that become a cluster of flowers the next spring . By November , the trees cast their leaves in grooming for winter dormancy .
Expert gardener ’s tip : The leave of pistachios growing in nitrogen - deficient grime release red between their vein .
Pistachio Flowers
Pistachio trees are male or female . Both bloom in clusters , with each cluster having 13 branches and each offshoot produce from five to 19 bantam , greenish - chocolate-brown flush . None of the flower have petals ; male person have five pollen - bring about stamen and female person single ovaries . They rely on farting for pollination , so only about 1 in 10 females develop a harvestable nut .
Pistachio Fruits
Pistachio fruit flow in grapelike clusters from the end of their branches . In with child - harvest years , the exercising weight of the fruit may force the branches to turn toward the ground . Botanically known as stone fruit , each fruit consists of :
Unless you get them , however , the only time you ’re probable to see an integral pistachio drupe is right after it ’s harvest . Processing removes both the outer layer .
Pistachio Nuts
The most colourful part of a pistachio nut is the sparse Isaac Hull separating its essence and plate . As the kernel ripens , its shell starts opening and the hull darken from yellowish to earmark pistachio green . At crop clip , the fledged nut resemble a partially open mussel and the Isaac Hull is rose-colored ruddy .
Expert nurseryman ’s crest : The timing of shell rip depends on where a pistachio tree growsin USDA zone 7 through 10 .
Other Features
As pistachio tree mature , their smooth , pale - gray-headed barque darkens and cracks . amply grow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree typically bear from 25 to 35 ft grandiloquent , with a shaggy-haired form and dense , umbrella - shaped canopy . Female tree diagram are smaller than males . But their well - kept secret may be their remarkable wood . It range in colouration from pale European olive tree to orangey- or purplish - brown , with strikingly irregular dark-brown or black graining .
