Vitex agnus-castus
Common name: 
Chaste Tree
Chastetree
Pronunciation: 
VI-teks AG-nus-KAS-tus
Family: 
Lamiaceae, Verbenaceae
Genus: 
Vitex
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous tree or shrub, 10-20 ft (3-6 m) tall, upright branching, rounded form.  Leaves opposite, palmately compound, 5-7(9) leaflets, lanceolate to elliptic, 15-20 cm long, 1.3-2.5 cm wide, tapering at both ends, entire or toothed near apex, gray-green above, grayish below; aromatic when bruised.  Flowers small, corolla about 8 mm, lilac or pale violet, fragrant, in dense, erect clusters 10-18 cm long.  Fruit globose, 3-4 mm, purple, pungent flavor.
  • Sun, does well in heat, best in well-drained soil.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (6)7      Native to southern Europe and western Asia.  Several cultivars available, including: 'Alba" (white blooms), 'LeCompte' (lilac), 'Montrose Purple' (blue-purple), 'Salinas Pink', and ‘Sensational’ (blue).
  • agnus-castus: old name for this plant, from agnos the Greek name and Latin castus, both meaning chaste (Coombes, 1985).
  • Silverton, Oregon: The Oregon Garden
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    plant habit

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • stem and leaflet

    stem and leaflet

  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters

    flower clusters

  • flowers

    flowers

  • leaves and flower clusters

    leaves and flower clusters

  • fruit, fall

    fruit, fall

  • trunks, bark

    trunks, bark

  • branches, winter

    branches, winter