Chaste Tree Info Tips On Chaste Tree Cultivation And Care

Chaste Tree Cultivation Chaste trees need full sun and very well-drained soil. It's best not to plant them in soil that is rich in organic matter because organically rich soils hold too much moisture close to the roots. Chaste trees do very well in xeric gardens where water is scarce.

How fast does chaste tree grow?

In colder climates, this plant is often pruned down right to the ground just before winter. Because it flowers on new wood, your chaste tree will return to a 3- to 5-foot flowering shrub each year, even with this fierce pruning routine.

When should you prune a chaste tree?

The best time to prune a chaste tree is in late winter. Even if you've never pruned a tree or shrub before, you can prune a chaste tree. These trees are very forgiving and quickly grow back to cover mistakes. In fact, you can cut off the entire tree at ground level and it will regrow at an astonishing pace.

How do you propagate a chaste tree?

Spring is best for seed starting; early to mid-summer for cuttings. Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone and set them in a pot or tray of moistened potting soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy wet and set the tray or pot in bright shade (no direct sunlight) for 2-3 weeks.

How much water does a chaste tree need?

The first year, water chaste tree every seven to ten days. It can survive on low amounts of water but does best with regular, deep irrigations. Water established chaste trees weekly in the summer and every three to four weeks in winter.

Is chaste tree invasive?

Vitex agnus-castus is showing invasive tendencies in areas where it has been planted extensively in landscaping, as in Texas. It can now be found in limestone outcrops and dry creek beds throughout Central Texas.

What is chaste tree good for?

Chaste tree has been used to treat menstrual cycle problems and pain, premenstrual syndrome, and menopause. Chaste tree berries may help stimulate progesterone. This is a female hormone that rises 2 weeks before menstruation. It may help normalize estrogen and progesterone.

Do chaste trees lose their leaves in winter?

Allowed to grow naturally, vitex will generally form a large, bushy plant about 10 feet tall. If you want it in a more compact form, you can cut the plant back to about 2 to 3 feet from the ground in late winter. ... Chaste trees are deciduous and may lose their leaves in extended cold snaps.

How tall does a chaste tree get?

Chastetree can be grown as a large, deciduous, multistemmed shrub or small, 10 to 15 feet tall tree, and is noteworthy for its showy, summer display (late springtime in the deep South) of fragrant, upwardly- pointing, terminal panicles of lavender blooms which are quite attractive to butterflies and bees (Fig.

Why is my chaste tree not blooming?

Too Much Water

Because it originated in dry climates, chaste tree prefers sandy, well-drained soil and requires little water once established. When treated too tenderly with frequent irrigation, it can suffer from root rot. In damp conditions it also produces lots of foliage, but few -- if any – flowers.

Does chaste tree attract butterflies?

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)

A quaint deciduous tree or small shrubbery bush, the Vitex will definitely attract butterflies, Hummingbirds, and bees to its sweet purple flowers.

How long do Vitex trees live?

Fast growers grow old fast, too: average life span is 15 to 20 years. Being an average, that means yours might live to 40 or beyond if it is in well-drained soil and you are in a less humid part of Zone 7, 8 or 9. Mild winters, hot summers and dry air are the chaste tree trifecta.

Can you grow vitex in a container?

Make sure to choose a container with drainage holes at the bottom and one that is large enough to allow for 2 to 3 years of growth before having to shift up to a larger size container. This might mean your planting pot would be 8 inches or more in width than the root ball of your chase tree.

Where does chaste tree grow?

Native to southern Europe and central Asia, chaste tree quickly grows into a multi-trunked tree about 10 to 20 feet tall and wide with a broad, spreading habit.

Are chaste trees deer resistant?

Looking like a butterfly bush on sterioids, Vitex agnus-castus, or Chaste Tree, is enjoying a comeback in gardens with some compact varieties that fit into smaller gardens. Deer resistance adds another attribute to this valuable late season sun-loving plant. ...

Why butterfly bush is bad?

The shrub is actually considered to be invasive, meaning it competes with the native plants in the area and will continue to spread and be harmful to the local eco-system. ... Not only is butterfly bush harmful for the eco-system but it's also an ineffective host plant for butterflies despite the name.

Is a chaste tree evergreen?

vitex trifolia

Evergreen shrub or small shrubby tree. Zones CS, TS; USDA 9-11. Native to Asia and Australia. Fast growth to 1220 feet high and wide.

What does chaste tree smell like?

The chaste tree leaves have a palmate pattern with five to seven lance-shaped leaflets emanating from a single point, while the butterfly bush has opposite leaves. Both are aromatic, though the butterfly bush has a sweeter smell, and the scent of the chaste tree is more like sage.

Does Chaste tree increase estrogen?

Through its action on the pituitary gland, chaste tree increases progesterone production via an increase in luteinizing hormone. This herb is useful for fibroids, premenstrual syndrome, and perimenopausal times of increased estrogen. With its use, less estrogen is available to stimulate endometrial tissue.

Does chaste tree cause weight gain?

While side effects are rare, the following can potentially occur after ingestion of the herb: allergic reaction, dizziness, constipation, weight gain, hair loss, heavy periods, and insomnia. Chaste tree supplements should not be taken by children or pregnant women.

Can Vitex cause hair loss?

It has already helped a lot which is wonderful. But unfortunately, I am starting to lose lots of hair! Appearently hair loss is a quite common side effect of Vitex.