5 facts about Vitex agnus

Our plant of the week this week is Vitex agnus, also known as Chaste tree or monk’s pepper. This multi-trunked tree is perennial in zones 6-11 and produces beautiful, lavender colored flowers. They’re native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia. While Vitex is fairly drought resistant, it will go dormant in winter and lose its leaves, before coming back in late spring or earlier. It blooms in early summer and does best in full sun. Historically, berries from the Vitex tree were used by monks to stay chaste, giving it its nickname. Nowadays, Vitex is used for relieving menstrual problems and infertility.

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