The less you water it, the better it grows. It is extremely drought-tolerant and can go 30 days without water. Grown as a potted plant at home, it is very easy to care for.

This plant is called Qingxiangmu (Chinese pistache), an extremely drought-tolerant and poor-soil-tolerant plant. Growing it means the less you water it, the better it grows. Even without water for a month, it will still live perfectly well. As a potted plant at home, it also gives off a fresh fragrance, making it very suitable for growing at home.

Qingxiangmu belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and the genus Pistacia. Its leaves are fairly dense, and the young leaves are red. It has a delicate appearance and a fresh fragrance resembling a mix of Sichuan pepper and citrus. From August to October it also bears small red fruits. This beautiful and easy-to-care-for potted Qingxiangmu is especially suitable for lazy growers, as it does not need frequent watering.

Qingxiangmu likes a warm environment with plenty of light. Its most suitable temperature is 20-25°C, and it can withstand lows down to minus 10°C. For the potting soil, choose a loose, breathable, well-draining soil, generally a sandy loam, which can prevent waterlogging and root rot.

Qingxiangmu has a well-developed root system and tolerates drought and poor soil. Do not water too frequently. Be sure to wait until the soil has dried out completely before watering, and when you do water, water thoroughly, but do not let water accumulate.

Qingxiangmu likes light and has some shade tolerance. It can also grow well in a semi-shaded environment, but it should not be kept in a dark place for a long time. Generally, just place it on a balcony or in an indoor spot with diffused light. In summer, it must not be exposed to scorching sun and needs appropriate shading.

Potted Qingxiangmu is also very tolerant of pruning. When its branches are too dense, you can prune 3-4 cm off the tips of the branches to make the plant shape more attractive and also encourage new branches to sprout.

The reason potted Qingxiangmu is easy to grow is also that it can grow dense and lush without any fertiliser. A slight mistake with fertiliser will instead harm it, so it saves even more effort. It is now autumn, which is exactly the right time to propagate Qingxiangmu from cuttings. A single branch can fill a pot, with a survival rate as high as over 90%.

In short, water Qingxiangmu as little as possible and fertilise it as little as possible. The more casual its care, the better. Place the potted Qingxiangmu in places such as the office, living room or study, where it is both attractive and fragrant.