Native Plants

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A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Wednesday - August 11, 2010

From: San Antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Leaves on non-native Chinese pistashe tree yellowing in San Antonio TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

My chinese pistashe tree leaves are turning yellow. The tree is about 25 years old. the last time it did this I applied some iron granules into the ground around it. However I have forgotten how much to apply and how far apart.

ANSWER:

Pistacia chinensis, Chinese pistache, is native to central and western China. It is considered invasive in Texas, see this Texas Invasives.org website on Pistacia chinensis. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommends only plants native to North America and to the area in which those plants are being grown.