Vitex agnus-castus var. latifolia

RHS Plant Profile

broad-leaved chaste tree

RHS

Synonyms

Vitex agnus-castus var. latifolia
Vitex macrophylla misapplied

Shrubs

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A large, spreading, deciduous shrub with dark green, palmate leaves comprised of five or seven oval, pointed, aromatic leaflets. Branched sprays of small, purple (occasionally white or dark blue), fragrant flowers appear on the ends of the branches in early to mid-autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Vitex are deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs with palmate leaves and terminal sprays of tubular, two-lipped flowers
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun. In frost-prone areas shelter from cold, drying winds. Best grown near a south or west-facing wall

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in autumn or spring, or take semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 6

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility