Pollinator plant

Lilac chaste tree

Vitex agnus-castus

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Common names

40 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (25)
Dutch
  • Monnikenpeper
French
Arabic
  • كف مريم[2]
Bosnian
  • Prstasta konopljika[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 穗花牡荆[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 紫花牡荊 (穗花牡荊 )[2]
Croatian
  • Divlji papar[2]
  • Konopljika[2]
  • Otočka konopljika[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Prstasta konopljika[2]
Czech
  • drmek obecný[2]
Danish
  • Kyskhedstræ[2]
Finnish
  • siveydenpuu[2]
German
Greek
  • Λυγαριά[2]
Hebrew
  • שיח אברהם מצוי[2]
Hungarian
  • barátcserje[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウニンジンボク[2]
Kurdish
  • تەروو[2]
Polish
  • niepokalanek pospolity[2]
Russian
  • Витекс священный[2]
  • Прутняк обыкновенный[2]
Slovak
  • vitex jahňací[2]
Slovenian
  • navadna konopljika[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • kyskhetsträd[2]
Turkish
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Vitex agnus-castus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Lilac chaste tree — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Keuschstrauch — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Mönchspfeffer — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Lilac Chastetree — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Monk's Pepper — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Sauce gatillo — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Arbre au poivre — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Gattilier — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Agnocasto — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
[2] Vitex agnus-castus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Lilac chaste tree — results[3].names[1]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Keuschstrauch — results[3].names[7]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Mönchspfeffer — results[3].names[5]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Lilac Chastetree — results[3].names[26]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Monk's Pepper — results[3].names[2]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Sauce gatillo — results[3].names[10]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Arbre au poivre — results[3].names[8]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Gattilier — results[3].names[9]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Agnocasto — results[3].names[6]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Aloc — results[3].names[3]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • שיח אברהם מצוי — results[3].names[4]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Konopljika — results[3].names[11]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Prstasta konopljika — results[3].names[12]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Otočka konopljika — results[3].names[13]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Divlji papar — results[3].names[14]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • drmek obecný — results[3].names[15]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • كف مريم — results[3].names[16]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • セイヨウニンジンボク — results[3].names[17]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Витекс священный — results[3].names[18]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Λυγαριά — results[3].names[19]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • 穗花牡荆 — results[3].names[20]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • 紫花牡荊 (穗花牡荊 ) — results[3].names[21]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • hayıt — results[3].names[22]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • kyskhetsträd — results[3].names[23]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Kyskhedstræ — results[3].names[24]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • navadna konopljika — results[3].names[25]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • barátcserje — results[3].names[27]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Prstasta konopljika — results[3].names[28]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • niepokalanek pospolity — results[3].names[29]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • siveydenpuu — results[3].names[30]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • vitex jahňací — results[3].names[31]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Прутняк обыкновенный — results[3].names[32]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • تەروو — results[3].names[33]; taxon id 170271; Vitex agnus-castus.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Vitex agnus-castus ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Mönchspfeffer (DE); Chaste Tree (EN); Chencherenche — VernacularName.tsv, line 156830; taxon 5BKY5.
  • Sauzgatillo (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 156831; taxon 5BKY5.
[4] Vitex agnus-castus — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Chaste Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Chasteberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Chastetree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Lilac Chastetree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Monk's Pepper — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Vitex agnus-castus.
  • Texas Lilac — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Vitex agnus-castus.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Vitex agnus-castus is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
2.44–6.1 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.52–6.1 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect; Open; Rounded; Spreading; Vase

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Medit. to C. Asia and India (NW. Rajasthan).

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Lilac chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a shrub. It flowers from September to October.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Vitex agnus-castus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1467968; ID 5BKY5; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1467968; ID 5BKY5; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Vitex agnus-castus — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Vitex agnus-castus — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1114707; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 277971, 277972, 277973, 277974, 277975, 277976, 277977, 277978, 277979, 277980, 277981, 277982, 277983, 277985, 277986, 277987, 277988, 277989, 277990, 277991, 277992, 277993, 277994, 277995, 277996, 277997, 277998, 277999, 278000, 278001, 278002, 278003, 278005, 278006

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.