Vitex trifolia 'Purpurea'

RHS Plant Profile
East Indian wild pepper 'Purpurea'

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A vigorous, half-hardy evergreen shrub to 2m tall, with grey-green leaves divided into 3 lobes or leaflets; the leaves are light purple beneath. In summer it produces upright spikes of tubular, blue or lilac flowers

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or 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)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Skin irritantwear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus
Vitex are deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs with palmate leaves and terminal sprays of tubular, two-lipped flowers
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright, indirect light. Water freely in the growing season and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly, water moderately in winter. Outdoors grow in moist but well-drained, fertile soil in a sunny or lightly shaded position, with the shelter of a warm wall

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Climber and wall shrubs

Pruning

See 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