Pistachios
Pioneering the Future of Pistachio Growing in South Africa
HortAfrique is South Africa’s leading specialist in premium pistachio nut trees. As a pioneer in the industry, we are dedicated to cultivating top-quality pistachio varieties and providing expert guidance to help growers establish thriving, productive orchards.
We produce robust UCB-1 and Clone II rootstocks, known for their strength, adaptability, and resistance to soil challenges. Our grafted varieties — Aryeh, Shufrah, and Sirora — are carefully cultivated to ensure excellent yields, nut quality, and consistent performance across diverse growing conditions. Whether you’re establishing a new orchard or expanding an existing one, our pistachio trees offer a strong foundation for long-term productivity.
UCB-1 Rootstock
The UCB-1 rootstock is widely regarded as the industry standard for modern pistachio production and is used globally due to its exceptional performance, vigour, and tolerance to challenging soil and environmental conditions. It was developed at the University of California, Berkeley (hence the name UCB-1) through a cross between Pistacia atlantica and Pistacia integerrima.
UCB-1 produces strong, fast-growing trees with excellent graft compatibility (including Aryeh, Shufrah, and Sirora varieties), high yield potential, and uniform growth. It offers outstanding resistance to Verticillium wilt, nematodes, and challenging soil conditions, including salinity and alkalinity. With its proven cold tolerance and long orchard life, UCB-1 provides a solid foundation for consistent, productive pistachio orchards.
Clone II Rootstock
The Clone II rootstock is a vigorous Pistacia integerrima selection valued for its strong growth, adaptability, and reliable orchard establishment. It performs exceptionally well in local growing conditions, offering good tolerance to cooler climates and moderate frost — making it ideal for regions with variable temperatures. Clone II promotes early tree development and a robust root system, ensuring healthy, uniform orchards. When paired with premium varieties such as Aryeh, Shufrah, and Sirora, Clone II provides growers with a resilient and productive foundation for long-term pistachio cultivation.
Varieties
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Aryeh
The Aryeh pistachio variety is prized for its high yield potential, excellent nut quality, and adaptability to diverse growing conditions. It produces large, well-filled nuts with an attractive shell and rich flavour, making it a favourite for both local and export markets. Aryeh trees are known for their strong growth, consistent production, and balanced maturity period, which aligns well with modern orchard management practices.
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Shufrah
The Shufrah pistachio variety is recognised for its outstanding nut size, excellent shell-splitting, and superior kernel quality. It produces consistent, high yields and performs well under a range of climatic conditions. Shufrah trees are vigorous and well-balanced, showing good adaptability and dependable productivity from year to year. With its combination of high-quality nuts and stable performance, Shufrah is a preferred choice for growers seeking both premium market appeal and orchard efficiency.
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Sirora
The Sirora pistachio variety is an Australian-developed cultivar known for its early maturity, uniform nut size, and excellent shell-splitting characteristics. It produces light-coloured, well-filled kernels with a mild, pleasant flavour ideal for premium processing and export markets. Sirora trees are reliable producers that adapt well to a variety of environments, showing good resistance to alternate bearing and stable yields across seasons.