During cool months the plant needs little water.
If your plant starts to drop leaves, it needs more water. Overwatering will lead to root rot, so the best approach is to give the plant a thorough soaking and then allow it to dry out rather than watering it daily. Watering and nutrientsĭuring the summer, avoid watering your chaste tree until the soil has either dried out or is only slightly damp. It’s a deciduous shrub that thrives in hot weather but can be planted in zones 5 and 6 where its branches will die and then grow back the following year. Though the vitex chaste tree is naturally vase shaped, it can be trained to grow as a single trunk tree. Use a container that’s at least eight inches wider than the root ball to allow for a few years of growth and place it in an area where it’s protected from high winds. Adding perlite or pumice to the soil mixture will provide greater drainage. If you’re growing a chaste tree in a container, use moist, well-draining soil in a container with drainage holes. If you’re planting a chaste tree in soil with poor drainage, it’s a good idea to do so in a raised mound. Moisture-retaining mulch and peat moss should only be added if the soil is sandy. The plant prefers well-draining soil with a pH that is acidic to slightly acidic.
To deliver robust flowering, plant your chaste tree in a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Though chaste trees are easy to grow, the best way to assure a healthy plant is to choose the right spot for planting.