The chaste tree, which may also be grown as a shrub, is native to parts of Asia and Europe. Sometimes known by its genus name Vitex, the chaste tree reaches a height at maturity between 15 feet and 30 feet (4.6 meters and 9.1 meters), depending on the climate, with an equally wide spread. It is a deciduous shrub with striking, bluish-purple flowers that bloom throughout the summer. Chaste tree leaves are dark green on the top, and silvery gray underneath. The plant can be grown as an attractive addition to the landscape and has also been used medicinally for many years, principally to relieve issues unique to women.
When planted in a garden, a single chaste tree in bloom is stunning. Several can also be planted in a row to make a spectacular, flowering border. The blooming season may be extended by deadheading the flowers as they fade.
In its native habitat, the chaste tree grows in moist areas. A chaste tree can grow in a variety of soils as long as the ground is fertile, with good drainage, and the plant receives enough water while it is becoming established in its new home. It requires full sun, and when grown under the right conditions is considered a hardy plant that is easy to maintain.
Along with attractive flowers, Vitex produces a fruit called the chaste berry, which has a fragrance similar to pepper. This fruit was used by monks at one time to inhibit their sex drives, earning Vitex the nicknames chaste tree and monk’s pepper. The chaste berry also contains the medicinal properties that have made Vitex a popular remedy for disorders of the female reproductive system.
Vitex can be used alone or in combination with other herbs to relieve the hot flashes that many women experience when they go through menopause. It is also used to treat premenstrual syndrome. Chaste tree contains constituents that can balance female hormones to treat menstrual problems such as irregularity and heavy bleeding. These constituents stimulate the pituitary gland to increase production of the hormones required for proper functioning of the female reproductive tract.
Chaste berry is usually sold in capsule form by health food stores, since it has a bitter flavor that makes it unsuitable to drink as tea. A tincture is also available that is more potent than capsules and may offer quicker results. It generally takes several months of daily use before any results can be seen, even when using the tincture.
