Vitex agnus-castus
I very much appreciate plant that straddle the line between tree and shrub , particularly when they do it in style .
The chaste tree is one such plant , and one that deserve some serious hyping up .
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With beautiful spikes of colorful blooms , lovely leave , and a delicious aroma , Vitex agnus - castusis an amazing specimen forattracting pollinator to your garden .
It ’s no dainty child’s play , though – it feature margin for drought , heat , and overall cultural neglect , not to cite a very vigorous emergence rate .
But optimum care will take your chaste tree much further than just leave the bare minimum .
In this guide , we ’ll go over everything a nurseryman need to provide for theirV. agnus - castusto stop up with an ornamentally and physiologically rockin ’ chaste tree .
Plus , I ’m sure you ’re curious as to why the works is evencalled“chaste tree diagram . ” Well , do n’t you worry . We ’ll dive into that , too .
What You’ll Learn
What Are Chaste Trees?
V. agnus - castusoriginates from southerly Europe and western Asia , and has since naturalized throughout Europe and the southern United States .
Hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 9 , the chaste tree is a member of theLamiaceae family of pot plants , and is known by many different names .
“ Lilac chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , ” “ salvia plant life , ” “ hemp tree , ” “ Indian spicery vitex , ” “ monk ’s pepper , ” and just “ vitex ” are but a few .
If left to its own gimmick , V. agnus - castushas an upright fork and rounded mannikin , and it often arrive at height of eight to 20 groundwork and spreads of five to 20 ft .
These dimensions can be hold in checkvia pruningto buckle under a multi - stemmed bush or a small , single - trunked tree .
The grayish - green , deciduous , and oppositely - arrange leave of this works are palmately compound , with five to seven leaflets growing from a central point .
Each redolent folder is oval to lance - determine , and can reach lengths of five to six inches .
When the deciduous leaves eventually drop , they do so without flaunting telling crepuscle vividness beforehand .
Come summer , light blue to purple flush flower in grandiloquent and cheeseparing bunch , with each cluster growing up to a foot tall . These aromatic blooms are quite attractive to pollinators such as hummingbirds , bees , and butterflies .
After pollination , the flowers give way to small , dark , peppercorn - corresponding drupes in fall , each control one to four seeds .
This plant can liberally re - seed , which , when combine with the vigorous emergence pace , gives this industrial plant potentially invasive growing tendencies .
Always check the rules and regulation of your local area before institute these in your landscape painting !
Cultivation and History
We engender ta touch on the “ chaste tree ” and “ monk ’s pepper ” nicknames in more contingent , as you ’re probably wondering what the trade is with the abstinence musical theme here .
Well , those name fall about due to the notion thatV. agnus - castuscould help with keep one ’s chastity .
In his text “ Naturalis Historia , ” Roman natural scientist Pliny the Elder note that in Ancient Greek times , Athenian women would keep the strong - smell out folio in or around their beds to help keep them chaste during Thesmophoria , a multi - day festival held in honour of Demeter , the Greek goddess of agribusiness .
Medical great of ancientness like Hyppocrates and Dioscorides commend that it could treat kindling .
Fast - forward to the time of the Roman Empire , and you ’d find wives using the foliage to hinder their married man ’ libido .
This belief in the celibacy - conducting powers ofV. agnus - castuscarried over into mediaeval metre , as monks believed the plant could suppress those demonic itch .
They ’d chew the Chuck Berry , add them to their repast , and even carry them around in their pockets . Hence , the “ monk ’s capsicum pepper plant ” nickname .
Besides the industrial plant ’s supposed strength in combating randiness , there are a few other purported benefits of the chaste tree diagram .
Various civilization of old used it to cover a grab bag of complaint , from GI issue to snake and spider bites , to made up psychological precondition such as hysteria !
Traditional North American and European herbalists exact it can be used to combat infertility , menstrual irregularities , and acne .
today , V. agnus - castusis mostly utilize in relieving the associated symptoms of premenstrual syndrome , such as hot flashes , cramping , and mood fluctuation .
circumscribed scientific evidence has been shown to date for applications programme outside of PMS stand-in , despite the various ways it ’s been used historically .
Propagation of Vitex Shrubs
If you desire to originate a chaste tree for yourself , you ’ll need to commence one from ejaculate , circularize a cutting , or graft a adolescent specimen .
From Seed
To adopt someV. agnus - castusseeds , you ’ll need to either purchase them or excerpt them from ripened yield in fall . Once you have the germ , soak them in water for 24 hours .
After soaking your seed , you ’ll involve to cold - stratify them . Place your seeded player in a baggie take with moist gumption , then place the baggie in the icebox for at least 90 days .
During this prison term , regularly check the bag and maintain moisture .
Once three months or so are up , take the baggie out of the electric refrigerator , remove the seeds , and sow them just below the control surface of a suitable ejaculate - starting medium , such as a 50:50 commixture ofpeat mossand perlite .
Container - wise , you’re able to opt for a seed tray or individual three - in containers , whatever swim your gravy holder . If you choose the seed tray , quad the seeds an inch or two apart .
localise your container near a sunny windowpane , where they ’ll be expose to bright , indirect twinkle . Moisten the media , and keep it moist as the radicles sprout .
Seedlings should emerge within two week .
Continue to worry for the seedlings , repotting as needed to allow for their root system with at least an in of elbow way on all sides , and maintain filth moisture .
Once the final frost passes in springiness , the seedling should be hardened off alfresco .
To do this , leave the seedlings outdoors for 30 to 60 hour before bringing them back inside .
add together an extra 30 to 60 arcminute each serial solar day until the seedlings can withstand a full day alfresco .
Now , they ’re ready for transplantation !
From Cuttings
spread cuttings is ideal for when you want a perfect genetic clone of your parent plant .
To get start , use a sharp and uninventive blade to snub a four- to six - inch softwood ignore from a plant in late spring or former summer .
It ’s important that you take a piece of base that ’s neither trade name raw , nor fully ripe .
you may determine this by bend a stem . If it breaks with a snap , bingo ! That ’s softwood .
If it bends but does not give away , that section is too immature . If the base does n’t bend at all , it is hardwood , and therefore not worthy for multiplication .
ensure the conclusion of your propagation piece is cleanly cut . Remove the foliage from the abject half , and then plunge the cut of meat close in rooting hormone – either liquid or pulverisation .
Bonide Rooting Powder
For a powdered IBA tooth root hormone , check out this product from Bonide , available via Arbico Organics .
Prepare a well - draining , three - in container fill with a 50:50 mix of peat moss and perlite , beat the cut remainder in , then wash the medium .
Cover with a clear plastic dish or a plastic bean , then localise the container in hopeful , collateral light to create aminiature greenhouse .
Check the clipping day by day , adding a chip of water if the potting mixture finger dry .
After four to six week have pass , check for roots by either seeing if any are glint out of the holes in the bottom of the container , or mildly raise the flora out of the container .
Once you see root , change the cutting into a large container , and keep the medium moist . Do not replace the plastic humidness covered stadium .
If everything goes to plan , rooted cuttings should be ready for transplanting after the final frost the following spring . verify to harden them off following the above communications protocol !
From Seedlings/Transplanting
The skillful time for transplanting is in fountain , after the concluding frost … although downfall is also an satisfactory time .
When choosing spots for transplanting , quality well - draining land site that are situated in full sunlight . blank space these sites as far apart as you wait your transplants to spread at maturity .
Dig kettle of fish that are about as deep as and a bit wider than the transplant ’ root scheme . Remove the transplants from their container and lower their root systems into their several holes .
Work a routine ofcompostor well - rot manure into the moil - out land , then start out to backfill the holes . substitute backfilling with lachrymation until you ’re allow with fully backfilled , full - water transplants .
Keep the grime around the transplants moist throughout their first growing time of year .
How to Grow Chaste Trees
’ Tis growing time , boys and girls ! have ’s learn how to keep a chaste tree alive and kick .
Climate and Exposure Needs
As advert earlier , V. agnus - castusneeds to be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9 to last year after year as a perennial .
In Zone 6 , the flora may choke back to the ground in winter , but it ’ll bounce back come natural spring .
Chaste tree are big fans of full Lord’s Day , so make certain that they ’re in a position to hit it up up all the rays that they perchance can !
Soil Needs
Well - draining soils are essential , as a lack of drain can easily lead to root putrefaction . A loamy and crumbly soil is preferred , but these works can wield clayey or sandy textures , if necessary .
Same goes for pH. A distinctive range of mountains of 6.0 to 7.0 is best , but slightly more acidic or basic soils will play as well .
Water and Fertilizer Needs
In many cases , a chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can come through without any subsidiary irrigation , save for during stark droughts .
For optimum growth and flowering , you should irrigate these plants deeply whenever the soil around their roots dries out altogether .
But if you do n’t , it ’s not the end of the public – these plants can survive restrained drought once established .
If yourV. agnus - castuslooks like it needs a little pick - me - up , give it a dose of 10 - 10 - 10 NPK fertiliser in former leap and again in early summer .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
Before the peak of new ontogeny each outpouring , you’re able to prune as you ’d care for physical body , whether the shape is that of a full bush , or more tree - like .
If you ’re having a hard time keeping your bush to a doable size , feel gratuitous to cut back them down to the ground in winter – they should jounce back come spring .
Be on the lookout for dead , dying , and/or morbid foliage year - troll , which should all be promptly remove .
Cutting off spend bloom of youth as you notice them will further quick re - blooming .
If you don’tdeadhead by cutting the spent efflorescence off , the plant will constitute attractive berry , which take seeds that are more than felicitous to make more vitex plants wherever they flow .
Maintaininga dyad inch of mulcharound the crown of these plants will do wonders for suppressing weeds , retaining urine , and protecting the roots from damage .
Chaste Vitex Cultivars to Select
Slight twists on old favorites are normally a respectable time . display A : snowy Armerican cheddar Cheez - Its . display B : chaste tree varieties !
Chaste Tree
You ’ll for certain come up these cultivars quite enjoyable , no lactose tolerance required … But if you require to stick with ol’ dependable , received chaste trees are usable in # 1 and # 3 container viaNature Hills Nursery .
Blue Puffball
Looking for something a bit smaller than usual ? The ’ Blue Puffball ’ cultivar – also sell under the name ‘ PIIVAC - II ’ – is consummate for growing as a small shrub , as it reaches a maximum height and spread of three to four pes .
This dark bluing to purple bloomer can even fit in a pot , if you ’d like !
‘ Blue true puffball ’
As you’re able to imagine , the delightfully rounded form of ‘ Blue Puffball ’ is even easier to maintain than the received species – no want to break down out the step - run !
It ’s usable in # 3 containersfrom Nature Hills Nursery .
Pink Pinnacle
‘ pinkish Pinnacle , ’ also known as ‘ V07 - SC - OP-4 , ’ is another small chaste tree variety , with a likewise - sized peak and spread of three to four feet at matureness .
The difference between ‘ Blue Puffball ’ and ‘ Pink Pinnacle ’ is right there in the name – the bloom of ‘ Pink Pinnacle ’ flaunt colours that one could line as the pinnacle of pinkness .
‘ pinkish Pinnacle ’
I ’ve never heard of usingV. agnus - castusduring a gender reveal political party , but unveiling ‘ Pink Pinnacle ’ would be a gorgeous and redolent way to let your lie with ones know that you ’ve get a lilliputian fille on the way .
‘ pinkish Pinnacle ’ can be purchasedfrom Nature Hills Nursery .
Shoal Creek
A 1983 introduction by Goodness uprise Nursery in Lexington , Georgia , ‘ Shoal Creek ’ garner its celebrity with its rather large cluster of blue to reddish blue bloom , with each cluster reaching 12 to 18 inch in stature !
This cultivar is big than the others we ’ve get across , with a matured height of 10 to 15 feet and a width of 15 to 20 feet .
‘ Shoal Creek ’
Besides its feel , a illustrious positive of ‘ Shoal Creek ’ is its resistance to leaf spot . Not too moth-eaten , eh ?
For a ‘ Shoal Creek ’ in a quart - sized container , head on over to Nature Hills Nursery .
Managing Pests and Disease
AlthoughV. agnus - castusplants typically are n’t get to by pests or diseases , it does n’t hurt to watch out for potential job . Not deer , though – this works is quite deer - resistive !
Insects
Since insects can vector pathogen , managing them has a delightful side welfare of limiting disease contagion .
The semitransparent , soft - corporate insects known as aphids are a vulgar enemy for the nurseryman .
As they infest plant life control surface , they utilize their pierce - take up mouthpart to distil vital plant fluid .
They also excrete honeydew melon as they feed , which they bank on plants and nearby surfaces .
For a plant , losing state juice can lead to local chlorosis , wilt , and/or necrosis if infestation are wicked enough .
to boot , the honeydew melon canattract antsand it may top to the development ofsooty stamp .
Blasting these pest away with stiff atomizer of water or killing them with insecticidal soaps are both fine options .
Bonide Insecticidal Soap
For the latter , might I commend this ready - to - spray insecticidal soap from Bonide , uncommitted in 12- to 32 - ounce sizesfrom Arbico Organics .
Learn more about how to cover with aphids in our guidebook .
These small , rounded insects get along in either armored or soft - corporate mannequin , and can educe vital plant life fluids with pierce - take up mouthparts like aphids do .
As you could probably guess , the symptoms of their presence are also similar , in esteem to both feeding and honeydew body waste .
To fighting scale of measurement , you’re able to scrape them off , give ’em the ol’ high - speed hydro - treatment , or smother them with neem crude oil .
Bonide Neem fossil oil
Said Bonide - brand neem oil is usable in quart , pint , or congius volumesat Arbico Organics .
ascertain out our guidebook for more info about weighing machine .
Whiteflies are tiny , waxy , and balmy - corporal worm with white wing and yellow - toned bodies .
As they feed on the leaves , then can leave them mottle , greensick , and droop . They also eliminate honeydew , which is not as sweet as it sounds , as we ’ve touched on above .
Strong spray of water and neem oil applications cancontrol whiteflies .
Disease
Thankfully , chaste Tree do n’t suffer from many disease .
But for the sake of preventing the spread of pathogens , it ’s best to use clean grease , disease - loose plant stock certificate , and sanitized gardening tools .
because of various species of fungus or bacteria , folio spots interrupt photosynthesis by take away up valuable real land on the leaves with dark-skinned , circular spots of various shapes and color .
While usually not seriously harmful to plant , they should n’t be ignore , as they ’re not very aesthetic .
Infected tissues should be pruned aside , while fallen leave-taking should be graze up and throw out of .
Prevention tip include adequate spacing , the avoidance of overhead watering , and utilizing fungicides before symptom become apparent .
Oftentimes , a plant ’s drouth tolerance comes with an unfortunate side effect : an increased susceptibility to root rot .
When a plant ’s ascendent system is exposed to an excess of piddle – whether from too much irrigation or too little drain – the antecedent start to suffocate from a deficiency of atomic number 8 , which can lead to mortification and a worsening of the aboveground shoots .
If a water - loving pathogen is present , the symptom are all the more gnarly .
What flummox you into this mess can get you out of it , too : water . right irrigation and drainage both prevents root rot and manages its symptom .
But if the plant is too far gone , polish off it and learn for next prison term is all you could do .
Best Uses for Chaste Trees
First and foremost , the striking form , flowers , and leafage of a chaste tree make it a gorgeous specimen plant – either in bush or tree diagram form – and one that attract pollinator wherever you put it .
bungalow and butterfly stroke garden , country along borders , and locations up against ramp up foundations all make for fantastical placement options .
Heck , you’re able to even put small cultivar in a pot .
The chaste tree is sometimes referred to as the “ lilac of the south ” because its beautiful flower spikesresemble those of the lilac , which is n’t as tolerant of the warmth as theV. agnus - castus .
So if you ’re looking for a lilac - esque planting for a live and dry garden , the chaste tree diagram is perfect .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Don’t Abstain from the Chaste Tree
sobriety and self - control come in handy in many aspects of lifespan … But when it total to planting a chaste tree diagram , you only hurt yourself by hold back .
drouth margin , pollinator attraction , all - around aesthetics – V. agnus - castushas it all . And you’re able to have it all , too , by place one in your landscape . So what are you waiting for ?
Trying to pull in more pollinators with woody shrub ? These plant will get the job done attractively :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally release on May 14 , 2018 by Gretchen Heber . Last update July 10 , 2023 . production photo via Arbico Organics and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Joe Butler
