Pistachio trees are nut-bearing plants native to some of the warmest parts of the world. Here’s what you should know if you’re interested in how to grow a pistachio tree, want to learn more about the pistachio tree growing zone, or want to get the best flavor from its nuts.

More than anything else, however, the most important thing to remember is that, like all trees, pistachios grow best when you plant them in a suitable environment. If you don’t live somewhere like the middle east, you can use greenhouses, space heaters, and humidity controls to recreate the ideal environment for your trees. 

What Does a Pistachio Tree Look Like?

Well-tended pistachio trees have broad branches moving out from a slender central trunk. Nuts grow in dense clusters along the branches while in season, while the compound leaves are rounded and align opposite along central stems. Leaves usually have buds along the bottom that can turn into a cluster of flowers.

How To Grow a Pistachio Tree

The best way to grow pistachio trees is by managing their climate effectively. They prefer long, hot, and dry summer periods, matched with about 1000 hours at or below 45° F while dormant. However, they don’t like it when the ground freezes.

Pistachio trees are slow-growing. You can expect many of them to take seven to ten years to produce their seeds. If you want seeds sooner, it may be easier to transplant a mature tree into your area.

Where Do Pistachio Trees Grow Best?

Pistachios grow best in their native environment, including Iran and many other areas in the Middle East. In the United States, they grow best in California’s San Joaquin Valley, the southeastern part of Arizona, the western regions of Texas, and higher areas of New Mexico.

It’s possible to grow them elsewhere with proper climate control, but this can be both difficult and expensive. If you’re okay with smaller and simpler harvests, you can grow them in other warm areas.

Can a Pistachio Tree Survive Winter?

Pistachio trees can survive temperatures down to 14° F without much trouble, so they can handle winters in most warmer areas. However, northern parts of the country can get considerably colder than this, so they’re not a good place to grow pistachio trees.

You can mitigate the effects of winter by wrapping and protecting the tree, then using a temperature control system to maintain the tree around 40° F over the winter.

How Long Does a Pistachio Tree Live?

Pistachio trees can live as long as 300 years, although most only produce a bountiful crop for 70-100 years. This isn’t quite as long as olive trees, but it’s much longer than some other crops. The long lifespan means that pistachio trees are an excellent long-term investment for growers, especially in ideal climates.

How Much Does a Pistachio Tree Produce?

A pistachio tree harvest can produce as many as 50 pounds of dry, hulled nuts once they reach their full production, usually when they’re between 15 and 20 years old. However, pistachio trees are biennial bearing, which means they produce heavy crops every other year.

Can You Eat Pistachio Fruit?

Pistachio fruit is technically edible, but there isn’t enough around each seed to make it genuinely worthwhile. The fruit doesn’t have an interesting flavor, either, so most people discard the fruit in favor of getting the nuts.

How Tall Does a Pistachio Tree Get?

The average pistachio tree height for a mature specimen is 30 feet tall, with the occasional tall tree reaching about 33 feet. They can grow up to 20 feet wide, so most experts recommend planting them at least 20 feet apart to ensure each tree can reach its full potential.

If you look, you can find a smaller dwarf pistachio tree, but these aren’t as good as regular trees.

Is Growing Pistachios Profitable?

Yes, assuming you live in an environment where the costs of growing don’t outweigh the profit. Pistachios are a profitable crop, offering long-term value and excellent yields over several decades. The nuts are tasty enough to be good in many recipes, too.

However, one factor to keep in mind is that pistachios require a lot of water. This is a known issue in drought-stricken California and other areas where pistachios are the easiest to grow. If water prices increase too much, that can cut into the profits of these trees.

What Is the Difference Between a Male and Female Pistachio Tree?

Male pistachio trees tend to be significantly taller and thicker than female trees. They may also have darker bark. One male pistachio tree provides enough pollen to support about nine female trees. Only the female trees produce pistachio seeds.

One issue with raising pistachios is that the male trees tend to bloom earlier in the year than female trees. This tendency means there isn’t much pollen left, so owners often collect and store the pollen from male trees, then apply it to female trees later to encourage healthier crops.

How Much Does It Cost To Plant an Acre of Pistachios?

Many factors go into the final cost of planting an acre of pistachios. Land itself usually costs $1500 to $8000 per acre, and excluding that, UC Davis’ 2020 estimate suggests pre-planting costs of $756/acre and standard planting costs of another $1900/acre.

Conclusion

Pistachio trees aren’t quite challenging to grow, but they need the right environment to reach their full potential. They adore the sunshine and require a lot of rain to get the biggest crops, but their long lifespans mean they’re an excellent cash crop for farmers who can afford the waiting period between planting them and getting full-size crops.

Home growers have it easier, but you need to plant at least two pistachio trees if you want a crop of nuts. The female trees require pollination from the male trees, and planting them so that the female tree is downwind will help ensure it receives as much pollen as possible.