PLANT of the week
Vitex agnus-castus ‘Chaste tree’
It’s taken a long hot summer to coax this lovely Mediterranean shrub to flower at last.
In ancient times it was considered an anaphrodisiac – the opposite of an aphrodisiac – hence its common name of the Chaste tree.
It’s not a widely planted shrub but for me its value lies in the lovely display of fragrant flowers which should last well into autumn (and its foliage is aromatic too).
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil and protect from cold drying winds.
I’ll prune back those flowering stems next spring.