Vitex Species, Chaste Tree, Chasteberry, Lilac Chaste Tree, Monk's Pepper
Vitex agnus-castus
Family: | Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Vitex (VY-teks) (Info) |
Species: | agnus-castus (AG-nus KAS-tus) (Info) |
Synonym: | Vitex agnus |
Synonym: | Vitex agnus var. integerrima |
Synonym: | Vitex agnus-castus var. caerulea |

Category:
Shrubs
Trees
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Deciduous
Shiny/Glossy
Foliage Color:
Blue-Green
Height:
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Spacing:
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Pink
Dark Blue
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; direct sow after last frost
By simple layering
By stooling or mound layering
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Athens, Alabama
Atmore, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
New Market, Alabama
Pleasant Grove, Alabama
Cottonwood, Arizona
El Mirage, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Goodyear, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
Queen Creek, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Bigelow, Arkansas
Blytheville, Arkansas
Desha, Arkansas
Malvern, Arkansas
Maumelle, Arkansas
Pelsor, Arkansas(2 reports)
Brentwood, California
Canoga Park, California
Garden Grove, California
Lodi, California
Merced, California
Miranda, California
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Ridgemark, California
Rosamond, California
Stockton, California
Vacaville, California
Palenque, Chiapas
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
Denver, Colorado
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Bartow, Florida
Belleview, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Deltona, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Georgetown, Florida
Hawthorne, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida(2 reports)
Jay, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida(2 reports)
Merritt Island, Florida
Miccosukee Cpo, Florida
Milton, Florida
Niceville, Florida
Palm Coast, Florida
Pensacola, Florida(2 reports)
Plant City, Florida
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Trenton, Florida
Venice, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
Wauchula, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
Zephyrhills, Florida(2 reports)
Athens, Georgia
Cordele, Georgia
Fayetteville, Georgia
Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Snellville, Georgia
Lowell, Indiana
Martinsville, Indiana
Portland, Indiana
Derby, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Barbourville, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Smiths Grove, Kentucky
Baton Rouge, Louisiana(2 reports)
Covington, Louisiana
Gramercy, Louisiana
Gretna, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana(2 reports)
Shreveport, Louisiana
Vacherie, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Derwood, Maryland
Riverdale, Maryland
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Galesburg, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Batesville, Mississippi
Golden, Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Leakesville, Mississippi
Marietta, Mississippi
Mathiston, Mississippi
Olive Branch, Mississippi
Piedmont, Missouri
Rolla, Missouri
Henderson, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada(2 reports)
Pahrump, Nevada
Edison, New Jersey
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Neptune, New Jersey
New Milford, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Belen, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Farmington, New Mexico
La Luz, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Spring Valley, New York
Calabash, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Garner, North Carolina
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Winston Salem, North Carolina(2 reports)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
Souderton, Pennsylvania
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Beaufort, South Carolina
Bluffton, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Conway, South Carolina(2 reports)
Florence, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Ladys Island, South Carolina
Lexington, South Carolina(2 reports)
Liberty Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Saint Helena Island, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Arlington, Tennessee
Cordova, Tennessee
Gallatin, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
La Vergne, Tennessee
Abilene, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(5 reports)
Beaumont, Texas
Belton, Texas
Brazoria, Texas
Breckenridge, Texas
Brownwood, Texas
Bryan, Texas
Burleson, Texas
Canyon Lake, Texas
China, Texas
Colleyville, Texas
Copperas Cove, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Dallas, Texas
De Leon, Texas
Deer Park, Texas(2 reports)
El Paso, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas(5 reports)
Galveston, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Geronimo, Texas
Giddings, Texas
Hallettsville, Texas
Haltom City, Texas
Harlingen, Texas
Hewitt, Texas
Houston, Texas(6 reports)
Huntsville, Texas
Iredell, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Katy, Texas
Kurten, Texas
Lampasas, Texas
Leakey, Texas
Lincoln, Texas
Lipan, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Montgomery, Texas
Mount Enterprise, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
New Caney, Texas(2 reports)
Nome, Texas
Onalaska, Texas
Portland, Texas
Red Oak, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Rowlett, Texas
Royse City, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
San Benito, Texas
Santo, Texas
Spicewood, Texas
Stephenville, Texas
Temple, Texas
Thrall, Texas
Tomball, Texas
Trenton, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waxahachie, Texas
Ivins, Utah
Lexington, Virginia
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Pasco, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Neshkoro, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On May 23, 2020, woodlands88 from Derwood, MD wrote: I love this plant. I've trimmed it to grow into a small tree with multiple trunks, similar to a crape myrtle. |
Positive | On Aug 24, 2019, Rests from Bryan, TX wrote: Very positive about this plant right now. I have had it in big pot for about 4 years. A bit of a fast grower. When it outgrows the pot, I just take it out and cut back the roots with a butcher knife. Then I trim the top of the plant back about a third. Doesn't seem to mind. It recovers within a couple of weeks and puts on new growth like crazy. The leaves don't get as dark green as the Vitex I have seen planted in landscapes. Maybe I need to feed it with fertilizer for acid loving plants. |
Positive | On Aug 14, 2016, jerry59 from DESHA, AR wrote: if yall find the tree overgrown and needs to be pruned, best time is late winter, start from the inside and work out is best, can b pruned to a tree shape or left as bush, in S.W Oklahoma, I have crape myrtles and cutleaf lilac growing along side of them and in the yard with no problem with the 100+ degree heat and high humidty, they are drought resistant, but I find in the heat and humidity once maybe twice a week water! |
Positive | On Aug 1, 2016, cindyvog from Martinsville, IN (Zone 5b) wrote: This is a potential die-back shrub in Zone 5b, but sure keeps it a nice size without effort. Much prettier than buddlia, (no flopping) and a novelty in my area so passers-by always curious. Easy care, late to show in the spring. |
Positive | On Jun 1, 2016, MB_Simmons from Harlingen, TX (Zone 9b) wrote: I grow 'shoal creek' vitex. It has dark purple blooms and flowers from May until late August or through the fall here in south Texas. It blooms at a young age. Mine were grown as cuttings and the seedlings had blooms! It's a vigorous grower that I expect o trim at least monthly during the growing season. |
Positive | On May 11, 2015, Shibainu from Lodi, CA wrote: I have had both the white and purple versions for 25 years. Some receive summer water and some don't even in the 110 deg. weather of central California and often without a drop of rain for six months. I prune mine HEAVILY every winter to just a few buds on each branch. They still put on six to 10 feet of new growth each year but stay neat and bloom beautifully. This is the only care they need but without it the blooms are small and the bush unruly filled with brittle dead branchlets. |
Positive | On Apr 20, 2015, Emerogork from Wethersfield, CT wrote: I brought a spray of Vitex, branches and blue flowers, in for the office at the high school main office. I may have gotten the secretary in trouble as its leaves and bloom look a lot like Marijuana. (: |
Negative | On Apr 20, 2015, blumz from Trussville, AL (Zone 8a) wrote: This tree can be a beautiful tree if ... and only if ... you keep it trimmed up in standard form. Otherwise, it will grow branches all the way to the ground and become an eyesore. The other drawback to it's beauty is the fact that it blooms twice during the season - spring and late summer. The blooms must be deadheaded or they will remain on the tree and detract from the attractiveness. I had to drag out a ladder and move it all around and stretch and bend to deadhead the tree twice each season. I eventually removed the two I had in my yard. It was a hard decision because the tree was beautiful .. just way too high maintenance if it is to be kept attractive. If left to grow on it's own it becomes a big unruly mess from ground all the way up. |
Positive | On Apr 21, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: Valued for its lavender-violet flowers in late summer. There are white and pinkish forms, but I much prefer the violet cultivars like 'LeCompte' and 'Montrose Purple'. The habit is shrubby---this is not a tree. |
Positive | On Apr 20, 2014, artsathome from Arlington, TN wrote: The Chaste tree is very easy to grow and I have grown both of mine from cuttings. The youngest is only 3 years old and has a trunk about 3 feet in diameter. It is about 20 feet high. I know I know it isn't supposed to get that big. But this one did. The parent tree the first cutting is not so big but then I have cut it back repeatedly to keep it in check. It has just gotten too big for the spot where I placed it. A word of warning to new growers. This Bush/Tree has large and invasive roots that spread widely. Do not plant it close to your house or your septic system if you have one. It will crack your foundation and completely destroy the septic tank and drains. Otherwise it is a beautiful Tree and attracts both bees and butterflies. I live north of Memphis in Arlington, Tn. |
Neutral | On Nov 8, 2013, PecosPaul from San Antonio, TX wrote: Just purchased and returned this plant. Between shopping, loading, and unloading the plant I experienced minor skin irritation (very minor burning sensation). Didn't want to risk developing a rash from future pruning so it had to go back. |
Neutral | On Aug 16, 2013, Dnode from Glendale, AZ wrote: I just today (August 16th) planted the first of two 5-gallon sized Chaste Trees here in Phoenix, Arizona (zone 9b), on the western side of the house between the house wall and the block wall surrounding the yard. It will get about 5-6 hours of full sun in that spot, with full shade the rest of the time, until the trees get taller. The soil is clay and was rock hard when I dug the hole, so I dug a bigger hole than planned and amended the soil. My expectation is that I should water less than the generic recommendations because of the clay. Here's hoping for lots of blooms and wall shade next year! |
Positive | On Jun 9, 2013, MarysVitex from Tampa, FL wrote: My family lived in Brooksville, Fl. which is about 50 miles north of Tampa. We had Vitex plants at our home there. When we moved we made the mistake of not taking them with us. It has been five years and I finally found a source to get the seeds. This is a beautiful plant and if you collect the seeds are fairly easy to start your own plants. My husband likes to have bee hives and the bees love these plants. They also make good honey. |
Neutral | On Mar 30, 2013, amberlwhull from Ocala, FL wrote: I live in Ocala, FL and this chaste tree is an amazing plant. I had one when I lived on Hayesville, NC and it did amazing as well. 5 years later the plant is 8-9 feet tall 5-7 feet wide. Great plant! |
Positive | On Oct 28, 2012, merryflock from Colleyville, TX wrote: I love my vitex and have been extremely pleased overall... but I'm trying to find out why one of my five trees is yellowing. I don't know if it's over/under-watered, wrong pH, diseased, or what. Can anyone help me? |
Positive | On Sep 23, 2012, burnkl6 from Sunset, TX wrote: I love these trees. I live in Sunset, Texas. It is hot, hot, hot but my vitex is always pretty. |
Positive | On Jun 3, 2012, jazzy1okc from Oklahoma City, OK wrote: A row of these lovely small trees is growing in the median on NW Expressway between NW Classen and Pennsylvania Avenue here in OKC. I love them and so do the many people who come into the nursery to find out what they are. They grow well in the same conditions as crepe myrtle and rose of sharon and are lovely planted along driveways and fence rows. After years of lusting after them, I'm planning to plant mine as a feature tree smack dab in the middle of the backyard. I'll surround it with rosemary, lavendar, and drought hardy, near-native perennials that the bees and butterflies love, such as cone flowers, tick seed, autumn sage, etc. |
Positive | On May 23, 2012, snowbirdalabama from Pleasant Grove, AL wrote: Vitex was a beautiful and large tree in front of my home and I guess I took it for granted. Other than removing new sprouts from the bark in the spring and photographing it sometimes (it even had great bones in the winter and looked wonderful with a dusting of the rare snowstorms) I paid it no heed. Apparently it needs little care. Since losing it in the April 27th tornado last year I've really missed it. I have started a new one....just can't even imagine how many years it will take to get to be a huge tree. |
Positive | On Jan 23, 2012, ptkexpres from Rolla, MO (Zone 5b) wrote: I grew this wonderful shrub in Stephenville, TX when I lived there. It was such a delight all summer with its nice foliage and lavender bloom spikes covering the plant. It attracted butterflies and lots of cute bumblebees that I loved to watch working the blossoms. |
Neutral | On Jan 9, 2012, BarbaraParis from Comerio, PR (Zone 11) wrote: I ordered some seeds. I hope they grow well down here. |
Negative | On Jun 13, 2011, cactuspatch from Alamogordo, NM (Zone 7b) wrote: This tree came up in our yard. At first I thought it was pretty and left it. But as it grew and needed pruning the sap caused rashes when pruned. It started coming up all over the place and the scent was so bad it gave us allergy headaches so we removed it. There are nicer, less stinky shrubs that are pretty and attract butterflies with none of those concerns. |
Positive | On Apr 7, 2011, texas234 from Fort Worth, TX wrote: Vitex has been wonderful! I have two of them and they are doing well. They have added color and brought lots of butterflies and bees. |
Neutral | On Feb 11, 2011, countryroads from Lincoln City, OR wrote: I have read all the wonderful comments on how butterflies, and bees love this plant, but what I need to know is do deer, and elk like it ? Or can I plant it outside my fence where they are all the time? Thanks, countryroads |
Positive | On Sep 15, 2010, pennylover22 from Muskegon, MI wrote: We have not grown this plant ourselves but did come across it here in Muskegon Michigan. The plant was 5ft high and about 5 ft wide, the bush was edging by surrounding trees and other plants, but was growing rather nicely with good bloom (which is what got our eye) it seemed to be receiving about 6 hours of sun. The owner of the plant did not know the name of it, we had to do a little research, we are going to buy one and try our luck here in ZONE 5. |
Positive | On Sep 7, 2010, suentommy from Souderton, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: Vitex is an easy plant to grow in this area. Mine is about 15 feet tall and blooms through a good protion of the summer. I don't have it in the best location as it is being crowded a bit by some evergreens that I am going to remove. This plant thrives on neglect and never flinches in droughts or heat waves. For someone looking for a large bush or small tree to give some needed summer color this is a great and undemanding plant. |
Positive | On Jul 5, 2010, coffinitup from Pahrump, NV wrote: Grows beautifully in our desert. |
Positive | On Apr 29, 2009, gooley from Hawthorne, FL (Zone 8b) wrote: Attractive, tough, adaptable. Here it occasionally gets tricked by late frosts (as it was this spring, with tender new growth damaged by a freeze), but so do some of the native plants. I find the seeds insipid, at least the ones from my shrub, but I suppose they could be used as a substitute for pepper if one were really desperate for one. Some years I get several flushes of bloom over the growing season. It really seems to thrive in this climate, seasonal droughts, high humidity, low humidity, sudden frosts after weeks of warmth, the whole gamut. |
Positive | On Aug 17, 2008, leeflea51 from Golden, MS (Zone 7a) wrote: i've had this bush/tree for about 7-8yrs. and am very impressed each summer when it blooms. It's a prodigious bloomer, with spires of dark lavender blooms. If the faded blooms are removed, often later in the Summer/early Fall, another round of blooms can occur. It is planted in full sun and I seldomly give it supplemental watering. Each Spring, I give it Miracle-Grow feeding of 1TBSP per gallon of water. I've never seen a need for more. For me, it has proven to be drought-tolerant. It attracts bumble bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. |
Positive | On Jun 22, 2008, rikkyb from Phillipsburg, NJ wrote: I planted this shrub about five years ago to replace an ageing lilac. In that time it has grown from a small one foot high plant into a sprawling 12 foot high and nearly as wide giant. Great screen for my back porch! There is only minimal winter dieback, and it more than makes up for it each summer with 2 feet of new growth. The flowers are great at a time when the spring flowers have finished and only my annuals are blooming. I'm very happy with this shrub. |
Positive | On May 27, 2008, threegardeners from North Augusta, ON wrote: I received seeds last summer and just for the experiment grew them out and planted them in my Zone 5a garden. I planted them all in different areas of the yard, even put one in a raised bed. |
Positive | On Sep 26, 2007, svplantingfool from South Venice, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: Grows very nicely here, flowers on and off from spring until fall. Produces many berries, but haven't seen any self-seeding yet. |
Positive | On Aug 27, 2007, GallatinGardens from Gallatin, TN wrote: The Vitex is surviving the 3-week, 100 degree heat/drought here in Middle TN, and blooming. I hardly ever water it. I bought it last year for $2 at Lowe's clearance. |
Neutral | On Aug 7, 2007, escambiaguy from Atmore, AL (Zone 8b) wrote: Vitex is showy when flowering, even if it doesn't last long. It is a tough plant that will last many years. The only downside is it attracts lots of bees, so if you or a family member is allergic I wouldn't recommend it. |
Positive | On Jul 27, 2007, xtrucker from Wellfleet, MA wrote: We have had this tree for 5 years. It blooms in late July thru early fall. We are in zone 6 (MA) and never have had serious die back - just some of the branches. It is grown in an the open area and gets some shade and has no protection from winds. It is beautiful in bloom but is very, very late to leaf out. I know of 5 other Vitex in the area and they all survive our winters which can get and stay below 0* for days. I have seen 2 cut to the ground and come back even more beautiful. |
Neutral | On Jun 30, 2007, macybee from Deer Park, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: My poor Vitex is underneath vines and still a couple of branches are peeking out to get some sun. I'm going to get out there to save it. |
Neutral | On Dec 15, 2006, frostweed from Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Vitex, Chaste Tree, Lilac Chaste Tree, Monk's Pepper Vitex agnus-castus is Naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an invasive plant in Texas. |
Positive | On Aug 29, 2006, trackinsand from mid central, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: this is my first year for this tree. i bought 6 of them online from an herb supplier this spring; they were small plants that i kept potted until two months ago. since putting them in ground, they are growing like weeds and blooming. i know they can take drought, but the one i planted by the birdbath is 5' tall already, so it likes the extra water. has anyone experienced hornworms on theirs? i pulled 3 of the nasty buggers off of one tree today. nothing on the others, but they totally stripped the one tree. i'm sure it will live, i just didn't realize they ate plants in the verbena family. |
Positive | On Apr 7, 2006, Suze_ from (Zone 7b) wrote: I love Vitex. Very drought tolerant, and such a nice smell. Vivid periwinkle (or sometimes bright pink or white) flowers that the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds flock to. I basically treat it like a crepe myrtle; it can either be allowed to grow as a bush or be shaped as a single or multitrunked smallish-medium tree. Or as someone else mentioned, it can also be whacked down to ground level each year and will resprout. |
Positive | On Feb 23, 2006, scottoblotto from Lowell, IN (Zone 5a) wrote: This plant is a lot tougher than given credit for. I have grown mine for the last three years, and it has survived the unpredictable Chicago winters with no problems. No dieback for me was evident; I do have it planted on a warm, south wall. It also survived being dug and moved to Indiana last year, withstanding a terrible drought and high temperatures. |
Positive | On Apr 1, 2005, nick89 from Tallahassee, FL (Zone 8b) wrote: Chaste tree thrives here in Alabama. It is very tough, withstanding heat, humidity, and neglect. Another great thing is fast growth and spectacular flowers. The leaves have a spicy scent. It can get quite large with and there are a number of old specimens in my area. |
Positive | On Oct 10, 2004, gjames from Littleton, CO wrote: I live in Denver Colorado.My wife and i picked up two of these plants at our local garden center,the only two they had,We have had them for only one month,so far so good.Will keep informed on there progress.If any one else in a zone 5 has tryed these plants id love to hear from you. |
Positive | On Jul 5, 2004, Suen from Leakey, TX wrote: Last year we planted a long row of chaste trees and we love it. Lots of bee and butterfly action. Not much known about it in this area, but I notice people are waking up to this interesting plant. Noticed in Uvalde paper that the local gardening club had a speaker on "chaste trees." We're looking forward to this wonderful screen from the road. Will either leave them alone or trim bottoms to encourage them to grow into trees. My shrub is primarily 4-5 feet tall. |
Positive | On Jun 28, 2004, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote: Vitex as an herbal remedy works for me! In a sense, it gave me my life back. |
Positive | On Jun 11, 2004, wm from Hagerstown, MD wrote: Overwinters well in Hagerstown MD. |
Positive | On May 30, 2004, Toxicodendron from Piedmont, MO (Zone 6a) wrote: Here in Zone 6 the Vitex sometimes dies down to the ground. This year it did not have any dieback at all. It is one of the very last shrubs to leaf out in spring. Mine is about 5 feet tall now, and 4 feet across. I got it on clearance at Walmart about 4 years ago. Bees and butterflies love it! |
Positive | On May 24, 2004, Digitalis from New Orleans, LA wrote: Vitex is a wonderful tree simply because of its beauty! Here in hot and humid New Orleans it's planted around government buildings and in neutral grounds instead of lilacs, for which it is often mistaken. |
Positive | On Feb 3, 2004, vegasgardener from Las Vegas, NV wrote: Vitex grows extremely well in Las Vegas, where summer temperatures often exceed 110F. They like full sun here, and don't require much water. |
Positive | On Sep 8, 2003, AusTXpropagater from Austin, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: Vitex, while not native to Texas, thrives here in our hellishly hot summers and mild (with occasional ice storms) winters. In Austin (zone 8b, ~22" precip./year) the Highway Department plants it along IH-35 and no one but God waters it. For some bizarre reason, the landscrapers randomly take a chainsaw to it at ground level -- it promptly returns from dozens of vigorous basal shoots. I have not noticed it spreading noxiously from seed or suckers. |
Positive | On Mar 12, 2003, sclarke from Macungie, PA wrote: My experience with this plant has been as an extract in pill form, for menstrual cramps. Suffice to say, this plant is indeed fabulous for reducing pain from cramping but I do not know what dosage every woman in particular may need. It probably varies and I'm sure harm could come if one takes too much. |
Positive | On Oct 19, 2002, CoyoteSpirit from Citrus Heights, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: I have found this tree to be very beautiful when it blooms, providing a breath-taking sea of bright blue/purple-ish flowers, and in the Fall with unusual seed-heads and purple-tinted foliage. It's drought-tolerant and doesn't even flinch in 115*(F) heat spells! |