 Vitex
negundo
“Cut-leaf Chaste Tree”
This very showy sister of the “Chaste-Tree” (Vitus
agnus-castus) makes an attractive shrub or small tree. TOUGH,
HEAT AND FAIRLY DROUGHT TOLERANT, it makes a showy display of
upward pointing, FRAGRANT, lilac to lavender flower spikes. The
pretty leaves are shaped like a cut-leaf maple; the trunk is gray
and somewhat ornamental. Bees are strongly attracted to Vitex
negundo, and so it is often planted where honey is marketed as
it promotes excellent honey production. Though it prefers loose,
well-drained soils, it TOLERATES CLAY AND SANDY SOILS. Can be
used in a mixed shrub border or as a specimen and is popular in
parking strips as it does not create surface roots. It’s
usually seen as a shrub but can easily be trained into a tree.
Now-why is it called “Chaste-Tree”? It’s said
that Athenian women strew their beds with the leaves to keep themselves
“chaste”. Pliny wrote that Vitex “checks violent,
sexual desire”. Hmmm. Many medicinal uses since ancient
times. Today it’s most well known for relieving menopausal
symptoms. 6-15’ tall, may reseed.
|
Low water