This plant prefers warm temperatures and needs full sunlight to thrive, though it tolerates most soils.
Many cultivars of chaste tree are available, offering a range of bloom colors.
Chaste Tree Care
This is an easy-to-grow shrub that poses few challenges to a home gardener.
If you avoid soil that is too wet or dense, success is nearly guaranteed.
Soil
Choose a location where the water drains away instead of gathering.
This shrub can handle most soil types, as long as the soil doesn’t hold too much moisture.
Native to Mediterranean regions, this plant prefers relatively dry soil.
Sandy or rocky soils are no problem.
Water
In most regions, you will not need to water aVitexat all once it is established.
In fact, you should avoid using organic mulches, since they can hold a lot of water.
Fertilizer
A chaste tree doesn’t require much, if any, feeding.
At most, a single program of a general-purpose balancedfertilizerevery year or two will suffice.
For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
It is sometimes trained as a single-trunk small tree by pruning away competing shoots to encourage a central leader.
Early pruning during winter will help keep the shrub in an attractive shape and control its size.
Chaste tree tolerates heavy pruning quite well.
Aggressive deadheading often produces a second flush of flowers about six weeks after the first.
In colder climates, this plant is often pruned down to the ground just before winter.
Propagating Chaste Tree
The easiest way to propagate a chaste tree is by rooting some branch cuttings.
It generally will put on 3 or 4 feet of growth and reach flowering maturity each season.
Problems usually occur when the soil is not dry enough.
This plant needs well-draining soil, and if grown in soggy conditions, it may experience fatal root rot.
What Do Chaste Tree Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Chaste tree flowers are often confused for lilacs, based on both their color and shape.
The small, purple flowers form along half-foot spikes.
However, the flowers do not smell like lilacs, instead emitting a spicy, peppery fragrance.
Another hindrance is excessive fertilizer.
In fact, some gardeners eventually remove the plant altogether due to this aggressive behavior.
Historically, this species was thought to be sacred to the virginal Greek and Latin goddess Hestia/Vesta.
It is commonly used in shrub borders, for foundation plantings, and in butterfly gardens.
It is also a good choice for xeriscape gardens where irrigation water is used sparingly.
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
