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Vitex negundo - L.

Common Name Huang Ping, Chinese chastetree, Cut Leaf Vitex, Cut-leaf Chastetree
Family Verbenaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wasteland up to 2000 metres in the Himalayas[51]. Mixed thickets on mountain slopes at elevations of 200 - 1400 metres in China[266].
Range E. Asia - Southwest China to the Himalayas.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Vitex negundo Huang Ping, Chinese chastetree, Cut Leaf Vitex, Cut-leaf Chastetree


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vitex_negundo_Blanco1.228-cropped.jpg
Vitex negundo Huang Ping, Chinese chastetree, Cut Leaf Vitex, Cut-leaf Chastetree
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Doronenko

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Lavender. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Rounded, Spreading or horizontal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Vitex negundo is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Agnus-castus negundo. Vitex nogondo

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Seed - occasionally used as a condiment[177, 183], it is a pepper substitute. When washed to remove the bitterness it can be ground into a powder and used as a flour[179], though it is very much a famine food used only when all else fails[177]. A tea is made from the roots and leaves[177, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial  Antitumor  Astringent  Dysentery  Expectorant  Febrifuge  Malaria  Sedative  
Tonic  Vermifuge

This species is widely used in Chinese herbal medicine, it is the second most important treatment for chronic bronchitis[218]. (The sub-species V. negundo cannabifolia (Sieb.&Zucc.)Hand-Mazz. is used.) The leaves are astringent, febrifuge, sedative, tonic and vermifuge[146, 147, 178, 218, 240]. They are useful in dispersing swellings of the joints from acute rheumatism, and of the testes from suppressed gonorrhoea[240]. The juice of the leaves is used for removing foetid discharges and worms from ulcers, whilst an oil prepared with the leaf juice is applied to sinuses and scrofulous sores[240].They are harvested in early summer and used fresh or dried[238]. A decoction of the stems is used in the treatment of burns and scalds[218]. The dried fruit is vermifuge[240]. The fruit is also used in the treatment of angina, colds, coughs, rheumatic difficulties etc[218]. The fresh berries are pounded to a pulp and used in the form of a tincture for the relief of paralysis, pains in the limbs, weakness etc[4]. The root is expectorant, febrifuge and tonic[240]. It is used in the treatment of colds and rheumatic ailments[218]. It is harvested in late summer and autumn, and dried for later use[238]. The plant is said to be a malarial preventative and is also used in the treatment of bacterial dysentery - extracts of the leaves have shown bactericidal and antitumor activity[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Basketry  Hedge  Hedge  Insecticide  Repellent  Soil stabilization

Young stems are used in basket making and for making wattles[51, 146, 158, 272]. The leaves are used to repel insects in grain stores[51, 146]. Extracts of the leaves have insecticidal activity[218]. The fresh leaves are burnt with grass as a fumigant against mosquitoes[238]. The plant is grown on slopes to counter land slides[272].

Special Uses

Hedge  Hedge  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Pollard, Standard, Specimen. An easily grown plant, it prefers a light well-drained loamy soil in a warm sunny position sheltered from cold drying winds[1, 200]. Succeeds in poor dry soils[238]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c[200]. They are not very hardy in Britain, they succeed outdoors at Kew[K], but in general are best given the protection of a sunny wall outside the milder areas of the country[11]. Plants only flower freely after a warm summer, so they are best grown against a sunny wall even in areas where they are hardy[219]. The flowers are produced so late in the season that they are unlikely to produce viable seed in this country even if they flower properly[K]. The plants require abundant summer sunshine in order to ripen their wood fully, the well-ripened wood is more frost resistant[11, 166]. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[219]. The leaves and stems are strongly aromatic[182]. The flowers have a most pronounced musk-like perfume[245]. Special Features: Not North American native, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. It does not need any pre-treatment[113]. Germination is usually free and quick. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, November in a cold frame[113].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
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Vitex cannabifolia Shrub3.0 -  LMNDM021
Vitex donianaBlack PlumTree15.0 10-12 MLMHSNM434
Vitex keniensisFulu, Mkombachiko, MufuuTree25.0 10-12 FLMNM204
Vitex madiensisEkarukei, MurukukweTree4.0 10-12 MLMHNM423
Vitex payosChocolate BerryTree8.0 10-12 MLMHNDM422
Vitex pinnataKelebanTree20.0 10-12 MLMHNDM024

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

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Botanical References

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Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

yokekeng   Thu Mar 24 16:14:29 2005

in malaysia, malay region use as a Blue colouring for their glutinous rice. They use extract from leaf of the plant.

Dr. B. K. Gorai, Ph.D.   Mon Nov 28 2005

This type of information is very very important for the unemplyed youth. Please send the plant extraction crude methodology so that any young guys can go for their livelihood.It would be better if you cited some user of the extracts.

Naseem Ahmad   Thu Dec 29 2005

Good information is available about this plant with valuable references

Nikhilesh Sanyal   Mon Jul 24 2006

Thank you for the useful information. I am doing in vitro propagation of Vitex under my guide Dr.Yusuf Akkara as a part of my project work. i'd like to know if you maintain in vitro cultures of vitex.

dr.H.M.Chandramouli   Sat Apr 7 2007

thank q for the therapeutic information . I add the oil prepared of leaves is having analgesic effect in earache . leaves tied in thick cloth dipped in the dicoction of leaves canalso relieve pain joints. medicated oil prepared is used as drops (snuff) in cronic headache.

Krishna Prajapati   Tue Jun 26 2007

I am working for environmental and chemical effects on physiology of Vitex negundo since june 2006. we are not getting anything for in vitro productions data. its flowering pattern is also difficult to understand plant needs much attention in terms of chemical exploitation and its environmental aspects too.

suvarna b. lotekar   Wed Jan 9 2008

current research on vitex negundo with respect to plant tissue culture & antitumour activity.

Rajan pitale   Mon Mar 10 2008

how many types of vitex negundo are available in india,more over intrested to know every thing in detail about black vitex negundo.

M.Jayanthi   Tue Jul 22 2008

I am doing my Ph.D in plant biotechnology. I like to work on this plant for secondary metabolite transformation can u get me research information so that its will be very easy for me to start my work. And may i no where it can be available easily.

tushar Patil   Fri Oct 3 2008

Dear sir please send me Photo nirgudi /Vitex Negundo plant and details information

Puran C. Singh   Fri Nov 28 2008

Dear sir please send me Photo nirgudi /Vitex Negundo plant and details information

sibaram paria   Sat Nov 29 2008

All the informations are most informative but should have some scientific data for future research.

   Sat Mar 21 2009

I GOT BLACK VITEX NEGUNDO BUT I DONT KNOW ITS USAGE. IF ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT IT KINDLY MAIL ITS USES. MY MAIL ID IS [email protected]

R.RAKKIMUTHU   Thu Jun 11 2009

i m studying Msc Biotechnology. i m doing mini project in invitro-propagation of vitex negundo.so i need surface sterilization,Medium composition protocal.please send the protocal to my email. my id is [email protected]

karthik   Mon Jun 15 2009

this is prem and karthik we are doing Ph.D in plant biotechnology i want more details above black vitex neugundo, and we want know where it is available in tamilnadu or india, please reply.

Velavan   Wed Sep 2 2009

hi prem and karthick.. im proud to inform you.. that i have black vitex negundo.. pls contact me at [email protected]

Diana Mae Ipan   Sat Sep 5 2009

I'm diana,a BS food Technology student.I'm just concern about what more we could expect from the Vitex Negundo L., especially in this semester,we have our first product development with the lagundi.We are also tasked to make a documentary report about it. What is your suggestion or any information to add about this matter? if possible, please have us the immediate response.thank you. from diana, [email protected]

ronald ewa   Wed Jan 13 2010

do you know the density,viscosity and other physical properties of lagundi extract? please send it to [email protected] thank you.

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Subject : Vitex negundo  
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