General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 6a -23.3 °C (-10 °F) to -20.6 °C (-5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 10 to 20 feet (3-6m)
Plant Spread: 5 to 15 feet (1.5-4.5m)
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Deciduous
Fragrant
Fruit: Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Blooms on new wood
Flower Color: Lavender
Pink
Purple
White
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Suitable Locations: Beach Front
Xeriscapic
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Provides winter interest
Erosion control
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Salt tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Various insects
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Awards and Recognitions: Texas Superstar®
Other: 2001 Georgia Gold Medal Winner

Image
Common names
  • Chaste Tree
  • Vitex
  • Chastetree
  • Lilac Chaste Tree
  • Monk's Pepper
  • Agnus Castus
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Vitex agnus-castus
  • Synonym: Vitex agnus-castus var. agnus-castus
  • Synonym: Vitex agnus-castus var. caerulea
  • Synonym: Vitex agnus-castus var. latifolia

Photo Gallery
Location: Northern California, Zone 9b
Date: 2019-03-23
After blooming, seeds remain on the tree. Little birds like to si
Location: Loki Schmidt Garten - Botanischer Garten der Universitaet Hamburg
Date: 2022-09-13
Location: Northern California, Zone 9b
Date: 2019-10-10
My 20+ year old Chaste Tree has interesting bark & attracts many
Location: Northern California, Zone 9b
Date: 2019-06-24
20+ year old Chaste Tree. Blooms heavily in early summer. Hardy e
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2018-05-21
Location: Loki Schmidt Garten - Botanischer Garten der Universitaet Hamburg
Date: 2022-09-13
Location: New Zealand
Date: 2016-01-28
Location: Loki Schmidt Garten - Botanischer Garten der Universitaet Hamburg
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2018-07-30
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2020-06-20
Location: Gulf-coast Texas
Date: 2014-06-01
Location: my yard
Date: 2016-06-01
Location: Rosebud, TX
Date: 2016-06-01
Vitex in bloom
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: June 12, 2022
Chastree #229 and #56 nn; RAB p. 893, 162-3-1; LHB p. 843, 175-8-

Date: 2016-07-08
Location: My yard
Date: 2016-06-01
Location: Kyle, TX
Date: 2020-05-31
Love the easy care part of this tree/shrub and its spicy scent
Location: Zone 9 Louisiana my yard
Date: 2018-05-12
Beautiful in full bloom
Location: Hamilton Square Perennial Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2014-06-09
Location: Colonial Williamsburg 
Date: March 7 2022
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: June 12, 2022
Chastree #229 and #56 nn; RAB p. 893, 162-3-1; LHB p. 843, 175-8-
Location: Kyle
Date: 2019-07-02
Has a spicy scent
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden
Date: 2018-08-31
center plant
Location: Bea’s garden
Date: 2021
Small tree collection. Roots used for cushings disease
Location: New Zealand
Date: 2010-01-22
Location: New Zealand
Date: 2010-01-22
Location: Beautiful Tennessee 
Date: Oct. 9, 2014
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: June 12, 2022
Chastree #229 and #56 nn; RAB p. 893, 162-3-1; LHB p. 843, 175-8-

Date: 2016-07-08
Location: Conroe, Texas
Date: 2020-05-23
Pink Chaste Tree - propagated from a tree at the County Extension
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2016-05-25
Photo by Justin
Location: Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2014-06-10
Location:  Bea’s garden
Date: 2021
Small tree collection
Location: compost bed
Date: 2017-05-19
  • Uploaded by pod
Photo by Justin
Location: Youngsville, LA
Date: 2015-05-19
By tabbycat
Location: Beautiful Tennessee, my garden
Date: June 16, 2017
Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2013-06-28
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2017-04-20
Location: Bea’s garden
Date: 2021
Small tree collection
Location: Washington, Utah, United States
Date: 2018-07-19
Location: Beautiful Tennessee 
Date: Nov. 1, 2014
Location: Conroe, Texas
Date: 2020-05-19
Pink Chaste Tree - propagated from a tree at the County Extension
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-26
Photo by Justin
Photo by Justin
Photo by Justin
Location: Lincolnshire, England, UK
Date: 22 September 2011
Vitex in a very exposed position in Northern England
Location: Zone 9 Louisiana my yard
Date: 2018-06-14
New seeds formed toward end of the early Summer flowers

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Medina Co., Texas
Date: May 29, 2012
Vitex Tree
Location: Atlanta BG
Date: Aug 16
Location: DeLand Florida
Date: 2014-05-25
"I know;...the orange ball ornaments aren't cool to some, but the
Photo by hawkarica
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-08-18
Chastetree Blossom 001

Photo courtesy of Joy Creek Nursery
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Denver Metro CO
Date: 2013-07-10
Didn't buy this as a vitex, but it grew out of a planting of a Ro
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2019-06-19
Chaste Tree - Vitex agnus-castus 007
Location: LVMG Watauga TX
Date: 2011-10-10
Hummer and butterfly nectar!
Photo by Justin
Photo by Justin
Location: DeLand Florida
Date: 2014-05-25
Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: Mid June
Gorgeous lavender bloom spikes
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by ediblelandscapingsc (Catawba SC - Zone 7b) on Jun 14, 2015 7:20 PM concerning plant:
    Vitex agnus-castus is widely cultivated in warm temperate and subtropical regions for its delicate-textured aromatic foliage and butterfly attracting spikes of lavender flowers. Vitex is derived from the Latin vieo, meaning to weave or to tie up, a reference to the use of Vitex agnus-castus in basketry. It's also referred to as false marijuana, chaste tree, vitex, monk's pepper, chaste berry, and many other names. The foliage as with all vitex agnus-castus looks similar to Cannabis sativa so it's always fun giving friends young plants and seeing their faces (priceless).

    All jokes aside, the Vitex agnus-castus plant has many uses medicinally and was once used to suppress the sexual cravings of monks, hence the name monk's pepper. In addition to reducing sexual urges in men, it's been said to increase sexual urges in women and make them more fertile. It's also been rumored to help with menstrual cramps and irregular periods and to increase breast size.

    The part most often used is the seeds, which are used as a pepper substitute in natural medicine, but many extracts are used in modern medicines outside the U.S. I have tasted the seeds and can't attest to any reduced sexual urges, but It does taste like pepper. All official evidence is limited to standardised controlled extracts, such as those used in Germany. Different extracts or herbal mixes may have significantly different properties and safety issues. Some of the modern uses include premenstrual syndrome, abnormal uterine bleeding disorders, and mastodynia. There are high levels of phytoestrogens in the seed to support these claims, and some of the compounds found in the plant seem to also work on the pituitary gland, but more research is needed. One should only use plants medicinally after speaking with a doctor or a professional and after both you and the doctor determine it's an approach you want to take.

    There are 3 main flower colors of vitex agnus-castus currently available: white, pink, and purple, but in many different shades. Some purples are on the blue side of the spectrum while others have a deep rich purple color. Some varieties are difficult to locate at the moment, but for a plant to not only live but thrive on neglect and have so many medicinally useful qualities, I see big things for its future. I would recommend this plant to anyone in zone 7 and up except for people who may be allergic to bees.
  • Posted by Skiekitty (Denver Metro - Zone 5a) on Apr 14, 2014 12:42 PM concerning plant:
    My plant is a volunteer. I bought a red butterfly bush and this grew out of the base! Beautiful silvery-blue flowers, not woody at all like a butterfly bush. Dies to the ground every year in my zone 5 with no protection, comes back every spring. Butterflies love it!
  • Posted by tabbycat (Youngsville, LA - Zone 9b) on Jun 21, 2018 9:35 AM concerning plant:
    I posted a picture of mine in full bloom in May. Since then it has finished flowering and now has long spires of the fragrant and medicinal seeds. Soon I'll cut these seed heads off where I can reach them to encourage a second flush of flowers in September. It's getting harder to do now that my plant is about 10 feet tall and wide. When working in my front yard, I grab and crush a few leaves to release that wonderful menthol fragranced oil that I rub on my forearms like perfume.
  • Posted by tabbycat (Youngsville, LA - Zone 9b) on Oct 27, 2018 11:05 AM concerning plant:
    The seeds on my large bushes are completely dry now in late October, so I've collected some to offer in the DND & NFSR Seed Swaps. Because I started the purple variety from unnamed seeds years ago, I posted a picture of it here to show its medium bluish-purple 8" spires that make a beautiful display in my front yard most of summer. I also have seeds of 'Blushing Spires' pale pink growing in my back yard.
Plant Events from our members
paleohunter On June 20, 2022 Potted up
paleohunter On April 21, 2022 Potted up
paleohunter On April 7, 2022 Plant emerged
paleohunter On April 26, 2021 Cuttings took
paleohunter On April 26, 2021 Obtained plant
Mielikki On February 2, 2013 Obtained plant
WebTucker On June 12, 2022 Bloomed
antsinmypants On April 28, 2023 Seeds sown
Sown after a 24-hour soak.
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Beautiful! by plantladylin Jun 25, 2019 12:32 PM 0
chaste tree by zbbcat2 Oct 21, 2019 11:18 PM 4
I think it's Vitex by purpleinopp Jun 18, 2022 2:21 AM 11

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