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Chaste Tree, Monk's Pepper, Vitex
Vitex agnus-castus

Climate Resiliency 3 out of 5 stars

Elongated spikes of long lived purple flowers cover this plant during the summer months. These colorful flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. This large shrub or small tree has attractive dark green aromatic leaves which drop from the plant during the dormant season. General flower color is purple, but cultivars 'Alba' with white flowers and 'Rosea' with pink flowers are available. Vitex is fairly messy so keep away from pools or areas intended to be kept well manicured. Handles both heat and cold very well.

• Special Note(s): The chaste tree (Vitex angus-castus) is currently listed by the Southern Nevada Cooperative Weed Management Area as "EDRR non-urban" or Early Detection Rapid Response. While it is currently sold in local nurseries, it will soon be listed by the Nevada Department of Agriculture as a noxious weed and removed from the SNWA plant list.
• Plant type: Perennial, Tree
• Maintenance level: Medium, Low
• Water requirement: Medium, Low
• Sun exposure: Full, Part Sun, Morning Sun, Afternoon Sun
• Height range: 10–20 Feet
• Width range: 10–20 Feet
• Growth rate: Medium
• Seasonal habit: Deciduous
• Flower color: Pink, White, Purple
• Flower season: Summer, Autumn
• Fruit color: Brown, Black
• Fruit season: Autumn
• General foliage color: Green
• Design style: Child Friendly, Hummingbird, Butterflies
• Hardiness cold tolerance: -10 °F
• Soil preference: Sand, Loam, Rocky, Well Drained
• Canopy value: 368 ft²
• Native location: Mediterranean and central Asia
• PH preference: Alkaline/Basic, Neutral
• Sunset zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
• USDA hardiness zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Plant characteristic definitions