The best time to prune a chaste tree is in late winter. Even if you've never pruned a tree or shrub before, you can prune a chaste tree. These trees are very forgiving and quickly grow back to cover mistakes. In fact, you can cut off the entire tree at ground level and it will regrow at an astonishing pace.
Common side effects of Chaste tree are:
- acne,
- dizziness,
- fatigue,
- stomach upset, headache,
- agitation, and.
- menstrual changes.
Chaste Tree Cultivation
Once established, you'll probably never have to water a chaste tree. Inorganic mulch, such as pebbles or stones, allows the soil to dry between rains. Avoid using organic mulches such as bark, shredded wood or straw. Fertilize the plant every year or two with general-purpose fertilizer.Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) A.J. Huxley/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Its pliable twigs are used in basketry, and its red fruits are used for flavouring. The undersides of its five- to seven-lobed leaves and its branches are white felted. It is native to Eurasia and is naturalized in North America.
Fruit. Vitex agnus-castus fruits are a globose drupe. Vitex agnus-castus is showing invasive tendencies in areas where it has been planted extensively in landscaping, as in Texas. It can now be found in limestone outcrops and dry creek beds throughout Central Texas.
You can prune your chaste tree to control size or for shaping purposes, and also to encourage repeat flowering using a type of pruning called deadheading. Damaged or dead branches or stems should be removed when they occur.
Vitex agnus-castus, also called vitex, chaste tree (or chastetree), chasteberry, Abraham's balm, lilac chastetree, or monk's pepper, is a native of the Mediterranean region. It is one of the few temperate-zone species of Vitex, which is on the whole a genus of tropical and sub-tropical flowering plants.
When planted right and in the right spot, Chaste Trees are one of the easiest flowering trees you'll ever grow. Depending on your preference, Chaste Tree quickly grows into a multi or single-trunk shrub or small tree to about 10 to 20 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety.
Chaste tree has been used to treat menstrual cycle problems and pain, premenstrual syndrome, and menopause. Chaste tree berries may help stimulate progesterone. This is a female hormone that rises 2 weeks before menstruation. It may help normalize estrogen and progesterone.
The root system of a chaste tree might grow 2 to 3 feet deep but the majority of the feeder roots responsible for absorbing nutrients are in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil. Spreading fertilizer on the soil surface is sufficient to reach these feeder roots.
A quaint deciduous tree or small shrubbery bush, the Vitex will definitely attract butterflies, Hummingbirds, and bees to its sweet purple flowers. The Vitex is also known as the Chaste Tree, Chasteberry, Sage Tree, or Monk s Pepper and is similar in looks to Butterfly Bush (Buddleia).
There are several trees and shrubs that have withstood the test of time and proven to be deer resistant. Deer resistant small and medium size trees include river birch, crape myrtle, Carolina cherrylaurel, and chaste tree (Vitex), all of which are tough, drought tolerant landscape plants.
Not Enough Sun
The chaste tree blooms best where it receives sunlight all day, every day. If that isn't possible, it can get by on sun for only half the day, but its blossoming will be less profuse. It is unlikely to flower at all in full shade.Vitex agnus-castus, commonly called chaste tree, is typically grown in warm winter climates as a vase-shaped, deciduous shrub (to 10-15' tall) or trained as a single trunk tree to 20' tall. In cold winter areas in USDA Zones 5-6, it is more often grown as a 3-5' tall herbaceous perennial.
vitex trifolia
Evergreen shrub or small shrubby tree. Purpurea, sometimes called Arabian lilac, is the most widely sold selection; leaf undersides are dusky purple.Extensive, heavy pruning to reduce the size of a chaste tree should be done in late winter, before new growth has begun to emerge. At this time, you can cut branches to a desired length or to a point where they intersect another branch. If you are just shortening a branch, cut just above a twig or bud.
Chaste Tree Cultivation
Once established, you'll probably never have to water a chaste tree. Inorganic mulch, such as pebbles or stones, allows the soil to dry between rains. Avoid using organic mulches such as bark, shredded wood or straw. Fertilize the plant every year or two with general-purpose fertilizer.The Vitex is also known as the Chaste Tree, Chasteberry, Sage Tree, or Monk s Pepper and is similar in looks to Butterfly Bush (Buddleia). It is known to be a hardy woody plant which resists cold, drought, and advances from deer. The long, cone-shaped blooms of the Vitex will add color and texture to your garden.
Chaste Tree Cultivation
Once established, you'll probably never have to water a chaste tree. Inorganic mulch, such as pebbles or stones, allows the soil to dry between rains. Avoid using organic mulches such as bark, shredded wood or straw. Fertilize the plant every year or two with general-purpose fertilizer.Plant of the Week- Chaste or Pepper Tree – Vitex Angnus. Unfortunately, this tree is fairly messy, shedding all of its leaves in the fall, and dropping old flowers and seeds throughout the year. However, its aromatic green leaves and long, profuse bloom period go a long way toward making up for the litter!
Fruit. Vitex agnus-castus fruits are a globose drupe. Vitex agnus-castus is showing invasive tendencies in areas where it has been planted extensively in landscaping, as in Texas. It can now be found in limestone outcrops and dry creek beds throughout Central Texas.
Vitex (chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus) blooms from late spring until early fall with long, upright spikes of pink, lilac and white flowers. Any shrub or tree that blooms all summer is well worth planting, but when it also has pleasantly fragrant flowers and foliage, it becomes a must-have plant.
Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) is a plant used in herbal medicine. Vitex may influence hormone levels in a number of ways. For example, it's said to promote the release of luteinizing hormone and, in turn, increase levels of progesterone (a hormone known to play a key role in regulating the menstrual cycle).
Vitex often will produce its big bloom show in summer and then not bloom much after that. So promoting more growth will promote more blooms. To encourage reblooming prune the plant back heavily after it's bloom show and then provide a good watering to soak the soil, which will promote regrowth and more blooms.
In winter, remove weak, twiggy growth from the center of the plant to keep it looking tidy. This is also the time to prune to encourage branching. Make cuts all the way back to a side branch whenever possible. If you must shorten rather than remove a branch, cut just above a twig or bud.
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
A quaint deciduous tree or small shrubbery bush, the Vitex will definitely attract butterflies, Hummingbirds, and bees to its sweet purple flowers. The long, cone-shaped blooms of the Vitex will add color and texture to your garden.The chaste tree leaves have a palmate pattern with five to seven lance-shaped leaflets emanating from a single point, while the butterfly bush has opposite leaves. Both are aromatic, though the butterfly bush has a sweeter smell, and the scent of the chaste tree is more like sage.
Pruning a Vitex Agnus Castus Chaste Tree
- Prepare a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach and 9 parts water.
- Cut the entire plant back to the ground if it is severely overgrown, misshapen or appears unhealthy; the plant will return with new growth in spring and bloom in summer.
One species that is well adapted to East Texas is Syringa laciniata, the cut-leaf lilac. It will grow to eight feet, with many small clusters of fragrant lilac-colored flowers. Lilacs prefer a well-drained, neutral-to-slightly-alkaline soil.
For those of you who want a medicinal plant for a SuperStar, Vitex fills the bill. It is a spectacular butterfly-attracting plant and is deer resistant in that deer will not eat it, although they can damage it with their antlers if it is allowed to grow very large.
