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GENERAL
Origin
:
tropical
Vigour
:
normal growth
rate, fairly fast
growing
Humidity
:
semi-arid, semi-
humid, very
humid
Propagation :
cuttings
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
resistant
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
medium
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (2500
ppm)
Hardiness
:
+3°C
SHAPE
Type
:
shrub, tree
Height
:
5 m
Spread
:
5 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
violet
Size
:
18 cm
Period
:
May - September
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
drupe(fleshy/
juicy)
Fruit size
:
0.5 cm
Vitex trifolia is also called Vitex, the simple leaf Chaste Tree. The area of distribution of Vitex
trifolia is in tropical eastern Africa and the Far East in French Polynesia. This simple-leaf Chaste
Tree is a heat-tolerant shrub or small tree. The tree grows to about 5 metres in height and width.
It is slow-growing and develops a conical shape with open crown. The foliage is evergreen. The
leaves are arranged oppositely with an entire shape, and three single leaves are together on one
branch, hence the name trifolia – three leaved. Single blue-violet flowers with long stamens re-
main together on one 18-cm-long panicle. The flowers appear in May and remain until September.
The fruits are fleshy, berry-like and green in colour. Propagation is by cuttings. Vitex trifolia has
tap roots; because it originally comes from tropical maritime climatic zones, it appreciates suffi-
cient irrigation and humidity. It is able to withstand some drought, heat and also salinity. There
are two other trifolia cultivars which make very good ornamental plants: Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’,
Arabian Lilac, with leaves that are dark red to purple underneath, and ‘Variegata’, with brindled
white-green leaves. This Vitex is a good plant as a specimen, grouped or massed planting, or as
a hedge. It is a bee-attracting tree that is suitable for urban microclimates, public open spaces,
parks and private planting, and in containers. It Arriyadh, it can be found in many urban situa-
tions, and in Wadi Hanifah, where it attracts considerable attention.
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Vitex trifolia,
Verbenaceae
Arabian Lilac