Chastetree is a non-native shrub or small tree that does best in hot weather in full sun. It blooms on new wood, so may be pruned to the ground in early spring like a perennial to invigorate growth. It is loosely branched in an open vase shape with interesting foliage. Preference is for full sun and loose, moist, well-drained soil. Flowers appear on 5-8 inch panicles in mid to late summer. Deadhead to encourage more blooms. It is native habitat, it can be found growing in wastelands of the Himalayas and mixed thickets on mountain slopes with elevations from 600 to 6500 feet. Growing to heights of up to 15', it can grow taller in areas where warm winters are experienced. The young stems are utilized in making baskets and when weaved with other materials can be used from construction. Grows in zones 6 through 9, however, it is not winter hardy in zone 6. It may suffer from dieback or may die to the ground in harsher winters. Planting in a sheltered location is important in this zone where it can be grown as a 3-5' perennial. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf spot and root rot occasionally affect stressed plants. It may suffer from frost damage during cold winters.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Open; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Entire; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are grayish-green with 3-7 leaflets per stem, with the middle leaf being larger than the other two. Leaflets are up to 4 inches in length. The underside is densely covered with matted wooly hairs.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Fragrant, small blue-purple, lilac, or lavender flowers in loose clusters on 5-8 in. panicles in summer on new growth. The petals on each flower are of different lengths, the middle lobe is the longest. The corolla and calyx are covered with hairs.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit detail
The succulent, rounded to egg-shaped fruit will be black or purple when ripe.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Reddish-brown bark
Stem color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Asia, Africa
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Buffer; Easy to Grow; Fragrance
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Roots; Seeds
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
The seeds can be used as a condiment as a pepper substitute. As a last resort, they can also be ground into a powder and used similar to flour. Tea is made from the roots and leaves.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Various medicinal uses of various parts of the plant. It has antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Vertical Spaces; Walkways
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Flowering Tree; Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen