Accession Count: 21
Common Name:
Mt. Atlas pistache, Mt. Atlas mastic tree
Family Name:
Anacardiaceae
Botanical Name:
Pistacia atlantica
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
This tree is deciduous and grows to 45-60 feet at a slow rate. It is hardy up to zone 9, and its flowers are dioecious, meaning that each flower is either male or female. Each tree will have either all male flowers or all female flowers, so one female and one male are necessary for reproduction. Pistachia Atlantica is not self-fertile. The leaves are “pinnately compound,” and linear. There are 7-11 leaflets per leaf, and each leaflet is 2 inches long. The foliage stays green through the autumn. The fruit is dioecious. There are pea-sized seeds on female plants, and they are pink ripening to dark blue. They only set when near male trees. The trunk is massive and stout (1).
Compound:
Pis atl
Geographic Origin:
North Africa
Ecozone Origin:
Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The species name and common name refers to the Atlas Mountains where this species grows.
Cultivation Notes:
Requires a very sunny location and deep, well-drained, light soil. It succeeds in dry soil. Necessary pruning must be done in the spring, prone to fungal root rots (1).
Ethnobotany:
This tree has been used for its resin for centuries. The nuts are collected by people in the Middle East for food. An edible oil is also obtained from the seeds. The tree is planted as a shade tree in many areas and is also planted near P. vera (Pistachio nut tree) as a pollinator.
Height:
50 - 100 feet
Width:
50 - 100 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Red
Function:
Habitat
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Invasive
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
