Chaste Tree Vitex agnus-castus
Introduction
Chastetree can be grown as a large, deciduous,
multistemmed shrub or small, 10 to
15 feet tall tree, and is noteworthy
for its showy, summer display (late
springtime in the deep South) of fragrant,
upwardly-pointing, terminal panicles
of lavender blooms which are quite
attractive to butterflies and bees.
The tree is often planted where honey
is marketed to promote excellent honey
production. The trunk is gray and blocky
and somewhat ornamental. The sage-scented
leaves of Chastetree are shaped liked
a hand, or palmate, and were once believed
to have sedative effects. Vitex has
the common name "Chastetree" since
Athenian women used the leaves in their
beds to keep themselves chaste during
the feasts of Ceres. Vitex seeds itself
into landscaped beds and can become
somewhat weedy.
General Information
Scientific name: Vitex agnus-castus
Pronunciation: VYE-tecks AG-nus-KASE-tus
Common name(s): Chastetree, Vitex
Family: Verbenaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 7B through 11 (Fig.
2)
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: specimen; container or planter;
trained as a standard; deck or patio;
highway median
Availability: somewhat available, may
have to go out of the region to find
the tree
Description
Height: 10 to 15 feet
Spread: 15 to 20 feet
Crown uniformity: irregular
Crown shape: vase, round
Crown density: moderate
Growth rate: fast
Texture: fine
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: palmately compound
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: lanceolate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous, fragrant
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches, 4 to
8 inches
Leaf color: green, blue or blue-green
Fall color: no color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: lavender
Flower characteristics: very showy
Fruit
Fruit shape: unknown
Fruit length: unknown
Fruit covering: fleshy
Fruit color: black
Fruit characteristics: does not attract
wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves not
a litter problem
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop;
showy; typically multi-trunked; thorns
Pruning requirement: needed for strong
structure
Breakage: resistant
Current year twig color: green
Current year twig thickness: thin, medium
Wood specific gravity: unknown
Culture
Light requirement: full sun, partial
sun or partial shade
Soil tolerances: sand; loam; clay; acidic;
alkaline; well-drained
Drought tolerance: high
Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate Other
Roots: not a problem
Winter interest: no
Outstanding tree: yes
Invasive potential: invasive non-native
Ozone sensitivity: unknown
Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown
Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases
Use and Management
Chastetree is used effectively in the
mixed shrubbery border or as a specimen.
It is usually seen with a multiple
trunk but can be trained in the nursery
into a tree with one or several trunks,
if so desired. Occasionally used as
a street or median tree since it will
not grow up and into powerlines, but
branches tend to droop toward the ground
and would hinder traffic visibility
if planted too close to the street.
Median planting would be fine if there
is adequate horizontal space for the
crown to develop and spread. Since
the flowers attract bees, locate it
accordingly.
Chastetree prefers a loose, well-drained soil that is moist or on the dry side, not wet, but will tolerate drained clay or sandy soils. The tree often suffers from dieback in organic, mucky, or other soil which is kept too moist, such as in the New Orleans or Dallas areas. Chastetree should be planted in full sun or light shade, and will tolerate hot weather extremely well, moderate salt air exposure and alkaline soil.
In the colder regions (USDA hardiness zones 6b and 7), Chastetree can be killed to the ground by severe winters and is more often seen as a multistemmed shrub. Chastetree is a fast-grower and can easily recover its size when cold weather prunes it. Very similar to Vitex negundo, which also is called Chastetree, Vitex agnus-castus is not as cold hardy as Vitex negundo (grows in USDA hardiness zone 6a). Vitex agnus-castus may survive in USDA hardiness zone 6a if protected from winter winds.
Several cultivars are available which offer flower color variety. `Silver Spire' and `Alba' have white flowers, and `Rosea' has pink flowers.
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or by seeds.
Pests
No pests are of major concern.
Diseases
Leaf spot can almost defoliate the tree.
Root rot can cause decline in soils
which are kept too moist
by Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson
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