# Five-leaved chaste tree (*Vitex negundo*)

The five-leaved chaste tree is a lovely shrub with pretty leaves and small flowers. It grows in warm places and is great for attracting butterflies and bees!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Five-leaved chaste tree](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vitex_negundo_leaves.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Doronenko, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vitex_negundo_leaves.jpg)

## Appearance

The Five-leaved chaste tree has striking palmate leaves, each divided into five or more finger-like leaflets, giving it a distinctive look. It produces clusters of small, fragrant purplish-blue flowers that create a lovely contrast with its green-grey foliage.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Lamiaceae
- **Genus:** Vitex

## Interesting facts

- Its leaves were once used to flavor pepper because of their spicy, peppery taste!
- The plant's scientific name 'Vitex' comes from Latin, meaning 'to tie,' as its flexible branches were used for weaving!
- Traditional healers have used parts of this tree for thousands of years to help people feel better!
- You might find this tough plant growing on riverbanks or even in rocky, harsh environments!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Defender:** Five-leaved chaste tree can thrive in dry conditions thanks to its tough root system, helping it survive hot spells.
- **Insect Repellent Leaves:** It has special compounds in its leaves that give off a strong scent, naturally deterring many plant-eating insects.
- **Speedy Sprout:** This plant can grow surprisingly fast, quickly establishing itself in new areas and outcompeting other plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-500 cm
- **Spread:** 150-400 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.6 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees for pollination.
- **Eaten by:** Lime swallowtail (*Papilio demoleus*) — Caterpillars of this butterfly species feed on its leaves.
- **Eats:** [Red-vented bulbul](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-vented-bulbul) (*Pycnonotus cafer*) — Birds consume its small fruits, aiding in seed dispersal.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or tasting plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Five-leaved chaste tree?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Five-leaved chaste tree?

200-500 cm

### How wide does Five-leaved chaste tree spread?

150-400 cm

### How big are the flowers on Five-leaved chaste tree?

0.3-0.6 cm

### When does Five-leaved chaste tree bloom?

Summer to Fall

### Is Five-leaved chaste tree edible?

No

### Is Five-leaved chaste tree toxic?

None

### What is Five-leaved chaste tree's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Five-leaved chaste tree: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/five-leaved-chaste-tree)