Pronounciation: VI-tex AG-nus tri-FOL-ee-a
Hardiness zones:
Sunset 12-24
USDA 9-11
Landscape Use: Makes a nice large background shrub to small multiple trunk shade tree for residential and commercial landscapes; use for mesic or oasis landscape design themes, unique summer flowing accent tree or shrub.
Form & Character: Evergreen, rounded, informal, subtle.
Growth Habit: Moderate growth to 15 to 20 feet with equal to greater spread. Growth rate is faster in more tropical climates.
Foliage/texture: Leaves are opposite, variably simple to compound composed of three leaflets, leaves with a distinctive venation, ovate to lanceolate, sparse pubescence on young stems; medium texture.
Flowers & fruits: Flowers with purple to violet corollas are born in panicles or clusters to 6 inches, stamens are in two pairs. Fruits are yellow-brown, small, in panicles, and are somewhat fleshy and contain 4 seeds.
Seasonal color: Not as showy as the lilac chaste tree.
Temperature: Tolerant of desert heat, freeze intolerant, damaged below 30oF, but will quickly recover.
Light: Full sun
Soil: Tolerant of alkaline soil.
Watering: Apply regular, deep. but infrequent water throughout the year.
Pruning: Vitex can be trained many different ways (and it will need to be trained!) ranging from elevating the canopy base into a small tree or heading it back severely to any desired height. Best to prune while dormant from December to early March, but can be lightly pruned most all year.
Propagation: Softwood cutting, seed
Disease and pests: None
Additional comments: This is a wide spreading large shrub! There are several cultivars including 'Purpurea' and 'Variegata'.
Medicinal notes: There are many locally indigenuous medicinal uses of this shrub.
In fact, the entire genus Vitex is known for having medicinal uses.
