Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)

Vitex – Chaste Tree with Lilac Flowers

Vitex agnus-castus, known as Vitex, Chaste Tree, Lilac Chaste Tree, or Monk's Pepper, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia. It is celebrated for its long spikes of fragrant, lavender-blue flowers in summer, which attract butterflies and bees. The aromatic, palmately compound leaves are gray-green. It thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and is drought-tolerant once established. Historically, its berries were used for medicinal purposes. It can be pruned as a shrub or trained as a small tree.

Taxonomic Details