*Vitex agnus-castus Linnaeus. Common name: Chaste-tree. Phenology: Jun-Aug. Habitat: Pastures, woodland edges, suburban woodlands. Distribution: Native of Mediterranean Europe.
Origin/Endemic status: Mediterranean Europe and Africa
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl6, G, GrPl, Meso4.2, Pa, RAB, S, WH3; = n/a – Tat; > Vitex agnus-castus L. var. agnus-castus – K1, K3, K4, NcTx, Tx; > Vitex agnus-castus L. var. caerulea Rehder – K1, K3, K4, NcTx, Tx
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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Horticultural Information
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Comments: Lilac chastetree is a small tree 10 to 20 feet high, with fragrant, violet flowers June through September. It prefers full sun and is very attractive to bees and butterflies. The scientific name is derived from the Greek, agnos, and Latin, castus, both meaning chaste because they believed it to be an antiaphrodisiac that helped maidens remain chaste. While Vitex has been used in landscape plantings for years, increased population of seedlings have been observed at increasing distances from the source, indicating a potential invasive quality.
Height: 10-20 ft.
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comments: Lilac chastetree is a small tree 10 to 20 feet high, with fragrant, violet flowers June through September. It prefers full sun and is very attractive to bees and butterflies. The scientific name is derived from the Greek, agnos, and Latin, castus, both meaning chaste because they believed it to be an antiaphrodisiac that helped maidens remain chaste. While Vitex has been used in landscape plantings for years, increased population of seedlings have been observed at increasing distances from the source, indicating a potential invasive quality.
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native range: southern Europe