Description Vitex negundo | Chinese Chaste Tree Chinese Chaste Tree, also known as Five-Leaved Chaste Tree, Horseshoe Vitex, Asian Chasteberry, Huang Ping, or Nisinda, is a hardy, deciduous, aromatic shrub growing 5-8 ft tall. The palmate foliage is similar to that of Hemp, having 5 leaflets per leaf. Its large, dense, branched panicles of flowers are composed of a multitude of smaller pale purple-blue flowers that are produced over many weeks at the end of summer. It’s in leaf from June to October, and in flower from August to October, with the seeds ripening from October to December. Suitable for light sandy soil, medium loamy soil, well-drained soil, and even nutritionally poor soil. Ideally, Hemp-leaf Chaste Tree should be sited in a well drained site in full sun. Will become drought tolerant once established. It will not grow well in the shade and is intolerant of water-logging. For the Chinese Chaste Tree, any pruning is best carried out in the spring (April or early May) and should consist of cutting out dead wood and shortening last year’s flowering branches. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including smaller, shorter tongued bees like Honeybees, and larger native bees, like Bumblebees. Seeds do not require a pre-treatment or cold-stratification. Germination is usually quick and easy with heat, humidty, and light. It is advised to keep rooted plants in pots with protection or a greenhouse through the first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of the following year. Type: Perennial Sun exposure: Full sun Mature height: 5-8 ft Mature width: 4-6 ft Hardiness zones: 6-10
