The chaste tree – a bee and butterfly magnet

A somewhat uncommon tree/big shrub for our area, the chaste tree is a favorite throughout Florida.  Sometimes seen at a few at local garden centers, the chaste tree is noted for its lavender, lilac-like blooms somewhat similar to the butterfly bush.  While some species of chaste trees have been identified as being invasive - Vitex rotundifolia or beach vitex  for example is actually a Category I Invasive, and Vitex trifolia  or simple-leaf chaste tree is a Category II Invasive, the chaste tree highlighted in this article is Vitex agnus-castus.  While  Vitex agnus-castus can get a little weedy, it is not considered a problem. 

The chaste tree grows not much larger than fifteen feet tall with a similar spread in our area.  The gray-green, hand-shaped, deciduous leaves emit the scent of sage when touched.   The lavender, fragrant, spikes of showy flowers are in bloom from late spring through summer at which time they can be awash with bees and butterflies – maybe even a few hummingbirds!  As this tree is heavily visited by pollinators, be careful where it is situated avoiding heavily travelled areas where passersby may not appreciate the buzz.   The flowers are followed by fruit which dries and produces four seeds. 

It can be trained into a standard small tree, used in large containers or planted as part of a deck or patio.  As this low branched tree is multi-stemmed and somewhat shrub-like, it can also be used as a border planting.  The chaste tree does best in full sun in well-drained soil.  Tolerating hot weather extremely well, chaste trees are also noted to be highly drought-tolerant, moderately salt spray tolerant, and adaptable to alkaline soils.  In fact, soils rich in organic matter or overly moist soils can cause root rot and dieback. 

The chaste tree is another noteworthy Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ plant suitable to grow in your own landscape.  For more information on all types of flowering plants suitable for Southwest, Florida, please call our Master Gardener volunteers on the Plant Lifeline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer.  Don't forget to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the area.  Please check this link for a complete list of site locations, dates and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.

Resources:

Gilman, E. F. & Watson, D. G. (2014) Vitex agnus-castus: Chaste Tree.  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

Scheper, J. (2004) Vitex agnus-castus.  Floridata: Tallahassee, FL.

Sachson, A. (2008) Cool Blue in the Landscape.  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Okeechobee County.

UF/IFAS (2010) The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design, http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/homeowners/publications.htm.

Wilber, W. (2010) Vitex tree thrives in Florida's heat and humidity – (The Gainesville Sun)  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Alachua County.

UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions – Chaste Tree.  http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/chaste-tree.html. 

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s 2015 List of Invasive Plant Species - http://www.fleppc.org/list/list.htm.