Vitex agnus-castus

lilac chastetree, common chaste-tree, indian-spice, hemp-tree, monk's pepper-tree, wild-pepper, abraham's balm, chaste lamb-tree, sage-tree.
Family

Verbenaceae

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

serrate

Leaf Type

compound, palmate

Leaf Shape

palmate lobed

Growth Form

shrub, tree

Flower Color

blue, purple

Flower Month

April - October

Height (meters)

1.5 - 5.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

introduced

Lifespan

perennial


Wetland Class

UPL

Field Characters

Small tree with distinctive palmate leaves. Flowers fragrant.

Cultural Information

Easily grown from seeds.

Natural History

Cultivated small tree with fragrant flowers.

Habitat

Pastures, roadsides, fence rows, stream valley, waste places.

Plant Uses

The fruit have been utilized as a pepper substitute.