Karee Plant Care

Karee (Pistacia aethiopica) belongs to the Anacardiaceae family within the Pistacia genus. Karee is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Somaliland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen. Karee is also known as Mountain Karee.

Karee displays a small to medium-sized tree growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 20 ft. Karee produces inconspicuous greenish flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Karee every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Karee thrives in full sun.

Pistacia aethiopica tolerates temperatures of 50–90°F. Karee prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy loam with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Karee to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Karee every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining sandy loam with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Karee is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Karee can spread to about 20 ft (6.1 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 20 ft (6.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Karee while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Karee is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Karee can be propagated through seeds, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to atlas mastic tree plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Karee is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Karee grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Karee is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Somaliland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen. In cooler regions, grow Karee as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.