Vitex is best grown in direct sun and moderately moist, well-draining soil. Vitex agnus-castus is a favorite as an ornamental shrub for its wonderfully aromatic, long blooming flowers. The pungent and distinctly flavored fruit are also sought out and most often used in tea making, culinary dishes, encapsulation, and tincture making.

A member of the Lamiaceae family, vitex is characterized by its many fragrant leaflets and tiny violet to lilac colored flowers. This large plant can grow up to twenty feet tall in a warmer climate but averages anywhere from three to sixteen feet elsewhere. Vitex is not usually considered a cold hardy plant. It will die back in the winter and successfully reemerge in the spring. The fruit can be harvested throughout the entire growing season. It is recommended to collect when they are not yet fully ripened and are still on the plant.

When growing vitex from seed, it is best to start indoors in the early spring about four weeks before the last frost date. Press seeds into prepared potting soil in planters or flats and keep them in a warm and sheltered area of the house with direct sunlight to promote germination. Keep consistently moist. Young seedlings should sprout within two weeks and can be safely transplanted outside once they are a few inches tall.

This Herb Appears In
• Organic Vitex (Chaste Tree) Berries
• Organic Vitex (Chaste Tree) Berry Powder
• Organic Vitex (Chaste Tree) Extract
• Vitex Berry Capsules
• Organic Moon Ease Tea
• Organic Wise Woman Tea
• Organic Vitex Essential Oil