Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Rock Steady ® chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Photo : Proven Winners
Chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , also known asVitex , is a deciduous shrub or small tree with attractive palmate foliage , long flower spike , and little fruits for multi - season involvement . The common name originates back to ancient Greece , as the pungent leaves were think to encourage sexual morality .
Native to southerly Europe and westerly Asia , this heating - eff plant belongs to the hatful or sage house ( Lamiaceae ) , with some 250 species . With a similar coming into court , vitex Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is sometimes mistaken for butterfly bush ( Buddleia ) . Tolerant of unlike develop condition , this unworried works is peculiarly popular in the southern U.S. For hundred , vitex has been used for medicinal purposes .
Vitexis a woody bush in warm climates , and can be trained into a single - stemmed tree diagram or multi - caulescent shrub . In Zones 5 - 6 , plants die back to the ground in wintertime . Vitex plant recovers from the source the following spring , raise 4 to 7 feet of new growth in a single grow time of year . Here ’s how to produce and employ chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in your yard .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked Questions|Landscaping Ideas
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VITEX BASICS
Botanical name:
Vitexspp .
Common names:
Chaste tree diagram , vitex , chasteberry , lilac chaste tree , hemp tree , monk ’s pepper tree , peppercorn bush , sage Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , Texas lilac
Plant type:
Deciduous or evergreen plant bush or little Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Zones:
The most usually grown species , Vitex agnus - castus , is hardy in USDA zone 5 - 9 . Other species may be less sturdy , and heating tolerant up to zone 11 .
Exposure:
Full Lord’s Day
Habit:
Upright bushy social system with an open , rounded habit
Height/Spread:
3 to 20 feet tall and all-inclusive
Bloom time:
Late spring to decrease , count on the mixture
Flowers:
Multi - branching blossom spikes up to 12 column inch long get in shades of majestic , lavender , blue , pink , or clean . The flowers are highly attractive to hummingbird , butterflies , and other louse pollinators including bees , which use the fertile nectar to make honey .
Fruit:
modest , rounded dark - purple fruits , known as drupes , come along in summertime and fall .
Foliage:
palm-shaped leaves are oppositely arrange , with 5 to 7 leaflets . Each pamphlet is lance - shaped and 4 to 8 column inch long . leaf coloring is green or grayish - viridity with a paler grey - green underside . The leaf exude a peppery salvia - like scent when bruise , hence the rough-cut names of sage tree and pepper bush . Vitex is also known as hemp tree for the like leafage coming into court to hemp or marijuana works .
HOW TO PLANT VITEX
When to plant:
The best fourth dimension to engraft chaste tree is in natural spring to allow an entire develop time of year for ascendent to become established . expect until all risk of frost is preceding in your orbit .
Where to plant:
Chaste tree diagram needs full sun and warmer temperature to thrive . Provide a site with well - draining soil that receives at least 6 hour of direct sun per solar day . In Zones 5 and 6 , choose a protected situation against a rampart or construction .
How to plant:
Loosen territory in the planting area and amend with compost or other organic matter to better soil and drainage . labour a hole three times as wide-eyed and slightly shallow as the beginning musket ball . Remove the plant from its nursery quite a little and gently relax roots if they are potbound . spot plant in the maw so the top of the solution ball is level or slightly higher than the surrounding land . take in soil around the root ball and gently tamp down to remove strain pocket . Water plants well . Space plants 4 to 20 foot apart , count on the variety , to allow for full ripe width .
VITEX CARE
Blue Diddley ® vitex . Photo : Proven Winners
Temperature and humidity:
Vitexprefers the warmer temperatures of its native habitat . Plants are kind of the high humidness of the southeastern U.S. , as well as the arid conditions of the desert Southwest .
Soil:
Chaste tree is resistant of stony and arenaceous soils as find in its native habitat . Plants will do best with amended soil that is well draining with a more or less acidulent to slightly alkaline dirt pH of 6.0 - 7.5 . For containers , employ a high - quality , all - purpose potting mix . To husband wet and suppress weeds , go for a 1- to 2 - inch layer of shredded bark or bark chips around the base of plants in outflow . In Zones 5 and 6 , use a wintertime mulch to protect the root geographical zone from punishing freeze .
Fertilizer:
Plants need petty or no auxiliary fertilizer . To speed up growth , fertilize in early spring with a boring - liberation plant food especially formulate for trees and bush . Use according to package instructions . Avoid over - fertilizing , which can go to extravagant foliage growth at the disbursement of flowers .
Watering:
Chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree prefers moderately moist soil , and is drought tolerant once established . Water plants during prolonged estrus and ironic spells . Do n’t allow soil to dry out out completely . Overwatering can lead to etymon rot or other disease .
Pruning:
Pests and diseases:
When grown in the right condition , Vitexis resistant to most pests and diseases . pestilence can includeaphids , mealybugs , scaleandwhitefly . disease admit leaf situation and root putrefaction .
Is chaste tree deer resistant?
Chaste tree is typically depart alone by deer , though almost any plant is susceptible to browse if deer are hungry enough .
Is chaste tree toxic?
Chaste tree is not considered poisonous to PET and children , though take in any plant not normally exhaust may cause stomach upset .
VITEX VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
stone STEADY ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersVitex agnus - castus
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright open habitHeight / Spread:4 to 12 foot tall , 4 to 5 feet wideExposure : Full sunBloom time : tardy spring to fallColor : Light purple flowers , unripe foliage
This medium - sized multifariousness prime over an exceptionally long clock time , with nonstop flowers from late leap until fall . The palmate folio and pale lavender efflorescence spike heel make a finespun coming into court in the landscape . utilise in a pollinator garden , mixed border , or as skirt .
Photo : Spring Meadow Nursery
' ABBEVILLE BLUE’Vitex agnus - castus
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:4 to 10 feet tall and wideExposure : Full sunBloom time : SummerColor : Blue flower , fleeceable foliage
Selected for the recondite - blue heyday and consistent maturation habit , ‘ Abbeville Blue ’ is a medium - sized smorgasbord with showy blue flowers 12 to 18 inches long . Use as hedging , in a shrub planting , or sundry border .
Photo : Thijs de Graaf / Shutterstock
' ALBA’Vitex agnus - castus
Zones:6 - 9Habit : shaggy-coated spreading habitHeight / Spread:10 to 15 foot tall , 15 to 20 base wideExposure : Full sunBloom prison term : SummerColor : lily-white flowers , gray - green leaf
‘ Alba ’ produces long coke - blanched flowers in dense capitulum , with a bushy spreading habit . utilise this larger form as seclusion screening , in mass planting , or as a digest - alone specimen .
Photo : Proven Winners
BLUE DIDDLEY ® Vitex agnus - castus
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Compact shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:3 to 6 foot tall and wideExposure : Full sunBloom metre : SummerColor : Lavender - blue flowers , green foliation
The smaller height of ‘ Blue Diddley ’ is about half the typical sizing of chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Plants give rise 6 to 10 - inch - tenacious lavender - grim bloom throughout summer . The compact habit is suitable for small space and mixed borders .
Photo : N. Stertz / Shutterstock
' dispirited PUFFBALL’Vitex agnus - castus
Zones:6 - 9Habit : Compact round off habitHeight / Spread:3 to 4 feet grandiloquent and wideExposure : Full sunBloom time : Late spring to early fallColor : regal - blue-blooded flowers , grey - green foliage
Dense clusters of purple - blue blossom that resemble fluffy puffballs are produced on symmetrical ball - shaped plants . This nanus sort is versatile in shrub moulding , foundation garment plantings , containers , or as fudge .
Pink Pinnacle ™ Vitex agnus - castus
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:5 to 6 foot tall and wideExposure : Full sunBloom time : recent spring through summerColor : Pink flower , gray - gullible leaf
Pink Pinnacle ™ bring forth pale pinkish flower spires 6 to 8 inches farsighted with distinct branching . The compact stature is versatile in shrub border , foundation plantings , and for hedge in .
Photo : Tim Ludwig / Shutterstock
' Shoal Creek’Vitex agnus - castus
Zones:6 - 9Habit : Shrubby undefended habitHeight / Spread:4 to 15 feet tall , 4 to 12 feet wideExposure : Full sunBloom time : SummerColor : Violet - blue bloom , grey - green leaf
This violet - bloom variety has a more vigorous growth habit , with good electrical resistance to leaf spot . Spiky blooms 12 column inch or longer complement the showy palmate parting . works in a dustup as hedging , or as a support - alone specimen .
Photo : Scott Zona / Shutterstock
Arabian LilacVitex trifolia
Zones:9 - 11Habit : just bushy habitHeight / Spread:10 to 15 feet marvelous and wideExposure : Full sunBloom clip : SummerColor : Lavender - blue flower , green foliage
Also sleep together as simple - leafage chaste tree diagram , this tender semi - evergreen or evergreen plant species is aboriginal to coastal region of east Africa , southerly Asia , and Australia . Violet - blue flower clusters 6 inches long come out in early summer , with foliage occurring in groups of three leaflets . In warm mood , use of goods and services as hedging , masking , or as a background plant in a border .
NOTE : May be invasive in constituent of the U.S. including Florida , Arizona , and Hawaii .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
AreVitextrees messy?
Fruits that bead from the plants can stain paving material and be messy to pick up . plant may produce volunteer seedling . Pick up fallen berries to neaten appearance and reduce ego - sowing . Pull seedling as they appear .
IsVitextree invasive?
plant can self - sow promptly in warmer climates . Vitexis considered invasive in region of the south and Occident , including Texas , California , Arizona , Louisiana , Georgia , and Florida . Check with your local greenhouse or extension religious service to see ifVitexis invasive in your area before purchase and planting .
What is the lifespan of aVitextree?
When given the right care and growing conditions , Vitexcan live at least 15 to 20 geezerhood , up to 50 old age .
IsVitexa tree or a shrub?
Vitexis considered a bush or small tree . plant life can be set aside to retain their raw bushy ontogenesis habit , or rationalise into a single or multi - stemmed tree .
VITEX LANDSCAPING TIPS
For borders and landscapes:
Chaste tree can be used as privacy showing , hedging , or as a stand - alone specimen in beds and borders .
For slopes and hillsides:
Mass smaller varieties ofVitexalong a side or hillside as a low - maintenance solution for erosion dominance .
For containers:
Dwarf varieties can be planted in containers .
There are many ways to habituate chaste Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in your landscape . Here ’s how :
Companion plants : pick out companion that thrive in similar conditions of full sun , warm temperatures , and low - to - temperate water needs . These include agave , butterfly bush , crape Vinca minor , echinacea , lantana , lavender , ninebark , oak folio hydrangea , ornamental grasses , arise of Sharon , rosemary , Russian salvia , salvia , fume bush , yarrow , and yucca .
