Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Vitex agnus-castus

Chaste Tree · Chasteberry · Lilac Chastetree

Family LamiaceaeGenus Vitex

Slender spikes of small lilac-blue flowers on upright stems, among leaves cut into long narrow fingers.
Flowerpeganum from Henfield, EnglandCC BY-SA 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Height
8-20 ft2.4-6.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
5-20 ft1.5-6.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
7-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Long believed to dampen desire, hence chaste tree; whether it does remains unproven. Agnus-castus says chaste in both Greek and Latin. Wikipedia: Vitex agnus-castus
  • Vitex comes from the Latin vieo, to weave or tie up, for its use in basketry. It is one of the few temperate members of a mostly tropical genus. Wikipedia: Vitex agnus-castus

Two sources report 5 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 23, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 23, 2023.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 1095 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 years from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 14 days.

15% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Vitex p. 67Public domain
Show the original text
Vitex (Verbenaceae). V. agnus-castus DS 3 y germ. 70D-40-70D-40-70D(1) and 40-70D740-70D(5/33 in 2nd w). <. •
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Vitex p. 67. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

46% germination in 14–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86Public domain
Show the original text
Vitex (Verbenaceae). V. agnus-castus germ. 7ÓL(40% in 2-10 w), 70 GA-3(46% in 2-5 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(38% on 4th d), and 40-70D(6%). When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 3 m, 83% germ. in 6-17 d. Light (or GA-3) is a requisite for germination despite the hard black seed coat. After 1 y DS seeds germ. 70L(40% in 1-4 w) and 70D(none) indicating no significant deaths as yet.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 8, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

40% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86Public domain
Show the original text
Vitex (Verbenaceae). V. agnus-castus germ. 7ÓL(40% in 2-10 w), 70 GA-3(46% in 2-5 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(38% on 4th d), and 40-70D(6%). When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 3 m, 83% germ. in 6-17 d. Light (or GA-3) is a requisite for germination despite the hard black seed coat. After 1 y DS seeds germ. 70L(40% in 1-4 w) and 70D(none) indicating no significant deaths as yet.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 4 days.

38% germination in 4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86Public domain
Show the original text
Vitex (Verbenaceae). V. agnus-castus germ. 7ÓL(40% in 2-10 w), 70 GA-3(46% in 2-5 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(38% on 4th d), and 40-70D(6%). When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 3 m, 83% germ. in 6-17 d. Light (or GA-3) is a requisite for germination despite the hard black seed coat. After 1 y DS seeds germ. 70L(40% in 1-4 w) and 70D(none) indicating no significant deaths as yet.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

6% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86Public domain
Show the original text
Vitex (Verbenaceae). V. agnus-castus germ. 7ÓL(40% in 2-10 w), 70 GA-3(46% in 2-5 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(38% on 4th d), and 40-70D(6%). When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 3 m, 83% germ. in 6-17 d. Light (or GA-3) is a requisite for germination despite the hard black seed coat. After 1 y DS seeds germ. 70L(40% in 1-4 w) and 70D(none) indicating no significant deaths as yet.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Vitex p. 86. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page