Do Chaste trees grow in Texas?
Also, the common name “Monk’s Pepper” refers to the medieval belief that utilizing potions made from the berries helped monks maintain their vows of chastity. Vitex grows best when planted in full sun and in a location that drains well. It will grow well in all areas of Texas, in both acid and alkaline soils.
How fast does a chaste tree grow?
Like most shrubs, vitex is best planted in the spring to give it plenty of time to establish roots before winter dormancy. It is a fast-growing shrub that can shoot up as much as 7 feet in a single season, but most gardeners opt to keep this potentially invasive plant to 10 feet or less in height.
Is the chaste tree invasive?
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree) is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
What are the side effects of chaste tree?
Chaste tree has no serious side effects. Mild side effects can include nausea, stomach issues, diarrhea, and itchy rash. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use chaste tree. It isn’t known if chaste tree is safe for children.
Should you deadhead a chaste tree?
There are several reasons to prune a chaste tree. You can also control the shape by chaste tree trimming. Carefully placed cuts can encourage the shrub to put on new growth. Another type of pruning, called deadheading, is important to keep chaste trees blooming all summer.
How do you care for a Texas lilac tree?
Esperanza-and now Texas Lilac Vitex- should be cut to the ground every winter to keep the plant manageable from season-to-season. Vitex grows best when planted in full sun and in a location that drains well. It will grow well in all areas of Texas, in both acid and alkaline soils.
Do chaste trees have deep roots?
The root system of a chaste tree might grow 2 to 3 feet deep but the majority of the feeder roots responsible for absorbing nutrients are in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil. Spreading fertilizer on the soil surface is sufficient to reach these feeder roots.
What can I plant with a chaste tree?
Vitex agnus-castus
Botanical Pronunciation | VI-teks AG-nus KAYS-tus |
---|---|
Water Needs | Moderate |
Watering Needs | Water regularly – weekly, or more often in extreme heat or containers. |
Companion Plants | Smoke Tree (Cotinus); Spirea (Spiraea); Rose (Rosa); Maiden Grass (Miscanthus); Weigela (Weigela) |
When should you take chaste tree?
Bleeding. Research suggests that taking vitex agnus-castus three times daily from the first daily of menstruation until day 8 of the cycle for four cycles reduces bleeding caused by an intrauterine device.
Does chaste tree make you gain weight?
When taken by mouth: Vitex agnus-castus fruit extract is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken appropriately for up to 3 months. Uncommon side effects include upset stomach, nausea, rash, headaches, acne, trouble sleeping, and weight gain.
How do you shape a chaste tree?
In winter, remove weak, twiggy growth from the center of the plant to keep it looking tidy. This is also the time to prune to encourage branching. Make cuts all the way back to a side branch whenever possible. If you must shorten rather than remove a branch, cut just above a twig or bud.
Can you keep a vitex small?
Vitex can also be grown as small multi-stem trees. In that case, remove all but a few trunks rising from the base, and prune the upper branches less, to form a canopy.
What kind of tree is a chaste tree?
Chaste Tree, Vitex; A Favorite Texas Blooming Tree. Chaste Tree, Vitex. As summer approaches, so does a bounty of blue and purple-flowering summer perennials and annuals, such as salvia, scabiosa and scaevola.
When to prune a chaste tree in Texas?
Because blooms develop on new wood, any necessary pruning should be done in fall or late winter. Once established, plants are very low-maintenance and drought tolerant. The next time you’re looking for a small ornamental tree to plant in your garden, consider adding a beautiful chaste tree….
What are the names of the lilac trees in Texas?
Common names: “Texas Lilac Vitex”, “Texas Lilac”, “Vitex”, “Hemp Tree”, “Sage Tree”, “Indian Spice” or “Chaste Tree”. Botanical names: Vitex agnus-castus. General information: A favorite in Texas gardens, the Texas Lilac Vitex grows quickly and offers easy maintenance.
What kind of tree grows in North Texas?
Vitex is a beautiful, small deciduous tree or, more precisely, a large multi-trunked shrub. Related to lemon verbena and vervain, members of the plant family Verbenaceae, Vitex is originally from the Mediterranean and western Asia. This origin makes the tree very well adapted to growing in our Texas climate.