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Plants

Vitex cannabifolia

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Vitex genus in the family Verbenaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Vitex
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The roots, leaves and fruits are antirheumatic, astringent, diaphoretic, diaphoretic, febrifuge and sedative[2]. A decoction is used in the treatment of dysentery, enteritis, malaria, heat stroke and arthralgia[2].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Used for fuel and charcoal[3].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Fuel

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Western China.
Habitat
Hilly slopes and roadsides[2]. Mixed thickets on mountain slopes and along roadsides at elevations of 100 - 1100 metres[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March in a warm greenhouse. The seed does not need pre-treatment[1]. Germination is usually free and quick[1]. 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[9]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, November in a cold frame[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is likely to succeed outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. It is seen as no more than a subspecies of Vitex negundo in some recent floras[7]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a light well-drained loamy soil in a warm sunny position sheltered from cold drying winds[8][4]. Succeeds in dry soils. Intolerant of water-logging[5]. Flowers are produced at the ends of the current year's growth[5]. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring and should consist of cutting out dead wood and shortening last year's flowering branches[6].

References

  1. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  5. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  6. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  7. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2

  8. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩

  9. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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