Vitex agnus-castus nbm

Vitex agnus-castus nbm

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🌿 Botanical Overview

  • Scientific Name: Vitex agnus-castus
  • Common Names: Chaste Tree, Chasteberry, Monk’s Pepper
  • Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)
  • Native Range: Mediterranean region and Western Asia

 

🌼 Description

  • Size: Deciduous shrub or small tree, typically 2–6 meters (6–20 ft) tall
  • Leaves: Palmate with 5–7 narrow, lance-shaped leaflets; aromatic when crushed
  • Flowers: Lavender to violet (sometimes white or pink), in long spikes; highly attractive to pollinators
  • Fruit: Small, peppercorn-like black berries (chasteberries), aromatic and medicinal

 

🌍 Habitat and Growth

  • Climate: Mediterranean to temperate climates; thrives in dry, warm regions
  • Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soils; tolerant of poor fertility
  • Light: Full sun required for best flowering
  • Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
  • Hardiness: Drought-tolerant once established; hardy in USDA zones 6–9