Chinese caste tree Vitex negundo
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- VY-teks neg-UN-doh
- Description
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Chastetree is a non-native shrub or small tree that does best in hot weather in full sun. It blooms on new wood, so may be pruned to the ground in early spring like a perennial to invigorate growth. It is loosely branched in an open vase shape with interesting foliage. Preference is for full sun and loose, moist, well-drained soil. Flowers appear on 5-8 inch panicles in mid to late summer. Deadhead to encourage more blooms.
It is native habitat, it can be found growing in wastelands of the Himalayas and mixed thickets on mountain slopes with elevations from 600 to 6500 feet.
Growing to heights of up to 15', it can grow taller in areas where warm winters are experienced.
The young stems are utilized in making baskets and when weaved with other materials can be used from construction.
Grows in zones 6 through 9, however, it is not winter hardy in zone 6. It may suffer from dieback or may die to the ground in harsher winters. Planting in a sheltered location is important in this zone where it can be grown as a 3-5' perennial.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf spot and root rot occasionally affect stressed plants. It may suffer from frost damage during cold winters.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Heterophylla'
- 'Heterophylla'
- 'Heterophylla'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Heterophylla'
- 'Heterophylla'
- 'Heterophylla'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vitex
- Species:
- negundo
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Various medicinal uses of various parts of the plant. It has antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia, Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Edibility:
- The seeds can be used as a condiment as a pepper substitute. As a last resort, they can also be ground into a powder and used similar to flour. Tea is made from the roots and leaves.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- The succulent, rounded to egg-shaped fruit will be black or purple when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant, small blue-purple, lilac, or lavender flowers in loose clusters on 5-8 in. panicles in summer on new growth. The petals on each flower are of different lengths, the middle lobe is the longest. The corolla and calyx are covered with hairs.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are grayish-green with 3-7 leaflets per stem, with the middle leaf being larger than the other two. Leaflets are up to 4 inches in length. The underside is densely covered with matted wooly hairs.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Reddish-brown bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
