Vitex agnus-castus
(Lilac Chastetree)
Vitex agnus-castus, Glenlake, Austin, Travis Co. 4699
Vitex agnus-castus, Glenlake, Austin, Travis Co. 4687
Vitex agnus-castus, Glenlake, Austin, Travis Co. 4681
Vitex agnus-castus, Lake Georgetown, Williamson Co. 3173
Vitex agnus-castus, Lake Georgetown, Williamson Co. 3180
Vitex agnus-castus, Lake Georgetown, Williamson Co. 3189
Vitex agnus-castus, Lake Georgetown, Williamson Co. 1747
| Scientific Name | Vitex agnus-castus | USDA PLANTS Symbol | VIAG |
| Common Name | Lilac Chastetree | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 32221 |
| Family | Lamiaceae (Mint) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Drier, well-drained soils; sunny locations, limestone outcrops and dry creek beds; widely cultivated in southern and coastal US and throughout Central Texas. Plant: Sprawling shrub growing from 10 to 20 feet tall and 2 to 8 feet wide. Leaves: Aromatic, palmate-compound, grayish-green leaves on petioles 3 inches long; 5 to 9 lanceolate leaflets of unequal length, 1 to 4-1/2 inches long; smooth upper surface and small white hairs underneath. Inflorescence: Dense, pyramid-shaped panicles of lilac or deep violet flowers 4 to 8 inches long at the ends of branches or from leaf axils; flowers bell-shaped, less than 1/2-inch across with protruding stamens. Fruit: Forming from the top of the inflorence spike; round, green, turning brown, 1/8-inch diameter. Reference: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas" by Diggs, Lipscomb and O’Kennon, Invasive Plant Atlas, et al. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key | Texas Status: Introduced INVASIVE |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024