CHASTE TREE Vitex Negundo SEEDS Genus - Vitex Species - Negundo Common name - Chaste Tree Pre-Treatment - Required Hardiness zones - 6 - 8 Height - 10' / 3.0m Spread - 10'-12' / 3.0m - 3.7m (12) Plant type - Shrub Vegetation type - Deciduous Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun Growth rate - Fast Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline Soil type - Clay, loam, sand, well drained Water requirements - Average Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break Germination rate - 88% Leaf / Flower color - Green / Purple Plant growth rate - Fast A decidious Shrub growing to 3m by 3m at a medium rate. It is in flower from September to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. Vitex negundo, commonly known as the five-leaved chaste tree, is a large aromatic shrub with quadrangular, densely whitish, tomentose branchlets. It is widely used in folk medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. It is in flower from September to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. Edible Uses: seed - occasionally used as a condiment, it is a pepper substitute. When washed to remove the bitterness it can be ground into a powder and used as a flour, though it is very much a famine food used only when all else fails. A tea is made from the roots and leaves.