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Vitex - Flowers for Pollinators

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 18357

Location: USDA Zone 8a

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posted 3 years ago

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Our daughter brought me two new plants. I knew immediately what they were.

Instead of calling them by name, she described them as lilac flowers so I told her what they were, Vitex. I recognized the leaves.

Vitex, often referred to as the Texas Lilac. Also known as the Chaste Tree

From: https://permies.com/t/59211/Plant-Tree#1131164

The plants are small so I have been taking them outside to harden from the wind.

I still need to get the plants used to the sun. The patio is shaded until the afternoon when the temperatures are too hot.

I have read they have some medicinal value.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Casie Becker

gardener

Posts: 2371

Location: Just northwest of Austin, TX

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posted 3 years ago

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I love those. I finally planted some myself last year. I actually sawed one of them in half with very little shock from the process. Have you decided if it's going to be a shrub or a tree yet?

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 18357

Location: USDA Zone 8a

4659

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posted 3 years ago

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Casie, I probably will let it be a shrub, a tall shrub.

I am planning to plant one of the vitex where the blackberry died because I know once I pull out the blackberry then it will be easy digging.

Now that they can handle wind, they are sitting on the gas grill to get some morning sun.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Casie Becker

gardener

Posts: 2371

Location: Just northwest of Austin, TX

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posted 3 years ago

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I'm still debating on mine, but probably will at least attempt to get some tree form on the ones in the yard. Shrubs seem to encourage mosquitos here. They like a shaded wind break. Lifting the canopy let's low breezes through and that makes a world of difference.

I think you're going to really enjoy it in your yard. I have seen larger specimens draw in crowds of butterflies and will be watching ours closely when they bloom. It looks like it will coincide with our white mist flower and most years the monarchs show up about that time.

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 18357

Location: USDA Zone 8a

4659

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posted 3 years ago

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It looks like it will coincide with our white mist flower and most years the monarchs show up about that time.

That sounds beautiful.

Every now and then I see a lone monarch looking for the milkweed that grows wild in my forest. I haven't looked to see if it survived this year though I have seen the plants out on the ranch road.

We had 10 rattles snakes show up on our patio at one time or another last summer, so that is why I'll let the vitex be a shrub.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Lh Forsythe

Posts: 47

Location: Cary, NC

posted 3 years ago

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I want one! One of the best medicinals and so pretty.

Active constituents include the eponymous vitexin as well as casticin and orientin, etc.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23742617/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4889806/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/orientin

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 18357

Location: USDA Zone 8a

4659

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posted 3 years ago

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Yesterday, the Vitex got planted.

I went out to water the plants and found one plant had been pulled up.

I assume it was a deer wanting a bite of something green.

Funny thing this was planted where the blackberry bush lived safely for years.

It was in a chicken wire enclosure.

Go figure...

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Kimberly Agnese

pioneer

Posts: 111

Location: Fresno Ca Zone 9b

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posted 2 years ago

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We planted one of those last year! Still waiting for it to come back though.. hoping it will.
Their berries once dry can be used like black pepper. We tested this and indeed they do!

“Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught , and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we can’t eat money. “

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 18357

Location: USDA Zone 8a

4659

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posted 2 years ago

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Kimberly, about the substitute for pepper.

My Vitex took a long time to bud out, it waited for the monsoon-like rains we are having at the moment.

Our daughter, who is the one that gave me the plants said it was probably a lack of water as to why it took so long.

She gave me two though it appears one is complete gone, probably got eaten.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Anne Miller

steward

Posts: 18357

Location: USDA Zone 8a

4659

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posted 2 years ago

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I thought that I would post an update.

Sometime in the spring, I checked and I had one of the two trees I planted.

Our temps have been in the 110F' though we have had some rain.

I took a gallon of water and walked to where the bush is. It looked piqued so it is good that I watered it.

I also have three blackberry bushes since the Vitex bush was planted where my blackberry had been.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

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