Chaste Tree

Vitex agnus-castus

This shrub is native to subtropical biomes from the Mediterranean to Central Asia and India, making it heat-loving, but it has been introduced in the Americas and Europe.^2,3

Chaste Tree is a perennial shrub or small tree that is pollinated by insects and has multiple stems growing from its crown.^4,5 It is a deciduous dicot that is hardy to USDA zones 7 through 9, leafy from June to October.^4,5 In September and October, many little flowers join to form its conical shaped inflorescence that, depending on the cultivar, ranges from blue to purple, and white, whose sweet scent will bring all the bees and butterflies to your yard.⁵ In fact, the entire plant is fragrant from the lemony seeds to the leaves and the stems.⁵ The fruits, or berries, generally mature in October for harvest.⁸

Its preferred habitat is in damp, warm areas on the shoreline or a forest edge in full sun and away from cold and drying wind and wet soil.⁵ It can be grown in sandy or loamy soil, prefers well-drained soil rich in phosphorus, but is also suitable for poor soil.^3,5,8

It is often planted in milder, warm climates as an ornamental in landscaping, especially in the southern United States.⁵ The shrub is best pruned in spring by removing any dead wood and trimming the prior year’s flowering branches.⁵

For seed germination, the fruits can be soaked in water for 6 to 10 hours for the better rate.⁸ The seeds can also be pre-treated with sulfuric acid for 1 to 2 hours, then chilled for 2 weeks at 50°F.⁸

Vitex was formerly in the Verbenaceae or Vervain family, but it has recently been reclassed to the Lamiaceae or Mint family.^2,3

The shrub is also known as Lilac Chaste Tree and has a long history in ancient Europe as a symbol of chastity, and alternatively, fertility.^4,5,8

Though officially named by the famed taxonomist Carl Linnaeus, one of its first recorded uses by its scientific name Vitex was in the first century by naturalist Pliny the Elder in his book, Naturalis Historia (Natural History).⁸ There are conflicting origins as to the meaning of its scientific name, Vitex agnus-castus.⁸ Its genus name is said to be from the Latin word viere, meaning to “stake” or “tie”, to refer to its flexible branches used by farmers in fixing fencing or to provide support for grape vines in Greece and Italy.⁸ Similarly, it is also suspected to be derived from the Latin vivilium, or wickerwork.⁸ Its species name could be attributed to the Latin agnus for “lamb” and castus for “chaste”.^3,8 agnus also seems be from the Greek agonos, agnos, or lygos meaning “chaste”, “pure”, or “god-pleasing”.^3,8

In Europe in the 1300s, the herb was known in religious traditions for its chaste distinction.⁸ A Midfranconian headmaster of a Viennese Catholic school once wrote this about Chaste Tree: “May God let grow less grapes in this world, yet more trees of this kind.”⁸

In their respective writings, Pedanius Dioscorides, called the Greek “father of pharmacognosy”, Galen the Greek physician, Pierre Pomet, the French pharmacist to the King Louis XIV, physician Hippocrates, and Greek naturalist Plato, have all spoken about utilizing this herb.⁸ As recommended by Pliny, the plant’s branches laid over crop fields were also said to improve soil fertility.⁸ In modern times, other notable references of the herb have come from Al-Samarquandi and Al-Kindi of Persia in 1200 AD in Arabian herbals, Renaissance period herbalists like John Gerard in the 14th and 15th centuries, inclusion in the 1618 Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, after which its official status was dropped and it was infrequently mentioned in American herbal texts.⁸ However in 1930, a pharmaceutical company Madaus of Germany, also known as Dr. Madaus & Co., began producing a product with Chaste Tree.⁸ Then later, studies beginning in 1954 were recorded and it began its era of standard use.⁸ Surprisingly, this important herb to support women’s reproductive health wasn’t mentioned in American or European official pharmacopoeias until the 1996 British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.*⁸

Greek mythology repeatedly referenced Chaste Tree used in various stories, including those of Achilles, Hera, Hercules, Odysseus, and Prometheus.⁸ Hera was the marriage guardian and the wife of the god Zeus who was said to be born under a Vitex.⁸ In the famed book The Odyssey by Homer, Chaste Tree’s branches were bound to a sheep’s underside and used in the escape of Odysseus’ party from the Cyclops.⁸

Grecian matrons from Athens would even string the leaves and line their couches and beds with them during the sacred rites of Roman goddess of agriculture, harvest, fertility, and motherly bonds, Ceres, during Thesmophoria, the 3-day women’s secret festival, and other feasts and celebrations that were seen as, in essence, chaste.^6,8

Legend has it that monks utilized the fruit of the herb to help maintain their chastity vows, leading to the herb’s common name of Monk’s Pepper.⁸ In turn, to imbue its symbol of chastity, monastery and convent entrances had the flowers scattered about to those arriving.⁸

The ripe berry has been used for thousands of years, with its first known recorded use by Hippocrates in around 400 BC.^5,6,8 In ancient times, it was used both topically and internally, as a powder or decoction, and often infused into wine.⁸

This herb is also used in Ayurveda (the herbal modality of India) and widely known as Renuka.⁹ However, in Bengali, it is also called Renuka Beej or Kauntee, while in Gujrati, in addition to the regular name, it can also be known as Harenu.⁹ In Hindi, it can be called Renukaa or Sambhaalooka Beej, while in Tamil it is labeled Yettee, and Jeevakamu in Telugu.⁹ Since the exact species Vitex agnus-castus is hard to find in the Indian market, they use V. negundo berries interchangeably.⁹ Renuka is listed within many important Ayurvedic formulas and has multiple uses within the modality.⁹ Other Asiatic species, V. rotundifolia and V. trifolia, are used in traditional Chinese herbalism as Man Jing Zi or Viticis Fructus.⁸ These species are said to have larger fruits, a less pitted exocarp, and a woodier, more bland flavor.⁸

While it can be taken anytime during the menstrual cycle, it is said to be well suited for the two weeks prior to menstruation.*⁷

It has also been used for environmental use, food, and as insect feed.² Paradoxically, it was also noted as an animal and insect deterrent in some traditional herbals.⁸

The flowers have been made into perfume, while the immature stems have been used for making baskets.⁵ The leaves, roots, and seeds create a yellow dye.⁵ The young trees’ limbs were used for basketry, while the peppery berries were used to make a spicy condiment in ancient Europe.⁸

The spicy berry, its botanical fruit, has been used in place of peppercorns while the leaves have been used as an aromatic spice.⁵ In Moroccan cuisine, the aromatic, earthy, and complex spice blend ras el hanout can traditionally include this plant’s berry to add a peppery and slightly bitter note to its fundamental flavors of Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin, Ginger, Nutmeg, and sometimes the addition of Turmeric, Paprika, Rose, Lavender, Saffron, Allspice, or Cayenne.⁵

Commercially, the herb is often supplied by its native Mediterranean countries, specifically cultivated or naturalized in Albania or Morrocco.⁸

Common herbal preparations on the market are the whole berries, powder, and alcohol-based tincture.⁸ However, some suppliers also offer the essential oil, due to the plant’s volatile oil content.⁸

1. Zimmermann Ph.D. M, Johnson, Ph.D. H.E, McGuffin M, Applequist, Ph.D. W. American Herbal Products Association’s Herbs of Commerce, 3rd ed. Silver Spring, MD: Publication of the American Herbal Products Association; 2023.
2. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Plants of the World Online. Vitex agnus-castus. Accessed 23 March 2026.
3. Breen, P. (2026). Landscape plants. Vitex agnus-castus | Landscape Plants (Oregon State University, Accessed 23 March 2026). Oregon, USA.
4. USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database: Vitex agnus-castus (PLANTS Database, Accessed 23 March 2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
5. Plants for a Future. 1996-2012. Plants for a Future Database: Vitex agnus-castus (Plants For A Future, Accessed 23 March 2026). Devon EX7 9LX England.
6. Grieve M. A Modern Herbal, Vol. 1, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Dover Publications; 1982.
7. Moore M. Herbal Materia Medica, 5th ed. Southwest School of Botanical Medicine; Santa Fe, NM: 1995.
8. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Chaste Tree Fruit. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium. 2001. Scotts Valley, CA 95067 USA.
9. Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of AYUSH). The Ayurveda Pharmacopoeia of India, Part 1, Vol. 5. The Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi, India: 2006.
10. Skenderi G. Herbal Vade Mecum. Rutherford, NJ: Herbacy Press; 2003.