PLANTS ORDERED TODAY WILL BEGIN SHIPPING LATE SEPTEMBER, 2023
Nirgundi (Vitex negundo heterophylla) potted tree, organic
$21.00
Family: Vervain (Verbenaceae)
Hardy to Zones 6 to 9
(Huang-jing-zi, Cut-Leaf Chaste Tree) Native to China. These are surprisingly hardy (hardier than V. agnus castus) and make a very handsome bush to small tree. These are considered top nectar producers for bees. The fruis are ground up in traditional medicine (Siddha, Ayurveda) and used as an aromatic spice and for treating digestive and menstrual disorders. Wound healing, decongestant, monopause. Prefers full sun and is not picky about soil, also quite drought tolerant. Space trees 15 feet apart.
Potted tree, 5 inch pot, Certified Organically Grown
In stock
Joe O. –
I am growing one right now and potted it up to a 3 gallon soon after receiving. It looks a lot like cannabis and even has a very distinct aroma. Growing to use for Ayurveda formula. I was wondering if anyone else is growing this and if they are doing it as an annual or perennial. Curious what is going to happen.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Joe,
Yes, the Nirgundi are seedlings grown from seed harvested from our own trees. Thank you for taking good care of it, potting up to a larger container is a very good idea. They become woody trees and are grown as perennials. They do exceptionally well in a dry landscape.
Richo
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Luba Kaplun (verified owner) –
This is such a lovely healthy plant. It took off immediately like a happy trusting baby growing by a day. How sensitive is it to replanting to a larger container (it sits in a 2 gallons fine ceramic pot now having given off 2 additional root baby shots already). Would it like clay, wood, resins, and what size? Do not have enough room in the garden for a forest :-).
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Admin Richo Cech –
Thanks for acknowledging the Nirgundi, I too find these to be really special, and my mature one in my yard gives me daily pleasure, and pleasures the bees, as well. These do fairly well in pots. A 3-gallon pot is sufficient to grow a flowering individual. In the fall, prune the tree back to about 24 inches. The next fall, prune it back to 26 inches, then next fall to 28 and so-on. In other words, every autumn, trim back to 2 inches above the old growth. Richo
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MartaS –
What if I have not ever pruned one and it is now 5 ft tall? Should I start now with 2 inches past last year’s growth?
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Admin Richo Cech –
I have never trimmed my nirgundi except to remove dead wood. They stay small in my experience and do not require pruning.
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Rebecca –
HI Richo! Do you think that if heavily mulched these would survive a zone 4. I am in Whitefish, Montana.
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Richo Cech –
I found this info at Missouri Botanical Garden: Best grown in loose, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Plant in a sheltered location in USDA Zones 5-6 wherein this shrub is not reliably winter hardy and often suffers winter die back or dies to the ground in severe winters. May be regularly pruned to the ground in early spring and grown in the manner of an herbaceous perennial.
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Aliza Musleah (verified owner) –
Hi Richo. I bought this from you and it is growing beautifully! I would like to make medicine from it but can’t find information other than using berries from it which I don’t see yet. Is it possible to make oil or extract from the leaves and flowers? And if so, what would it be used for? Thank you!
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Richo Cech –
Hello Aliza, Thank you, please post a 5-star review on our Vitex negundo trees or the seed that we use to grow them! From the web: Vitex negundo relieves muscle aches and joint pains. The Ayurvedic and Unani Pharmacopoeia of India has documented the use of the leaf, seed and the root to treat excessive vaginal discharge, edema, skin diseases, pruritus, helminthiasis, rheumatism and puerperal fever. From my personal experience: The dried fruits are used in the same way as Vitex agnus-castus. This is of the Chinese herbs that releases the exterior, commonly employed to treat headache or eye pain. Richo
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Kate (verified owner) –
This is a very lovely tree. I have it in a large pot on the porch. I live in Lostine Oregon, at about 35600 feet in the Wallowa Mountains. Many zone 5 plants struggle here due to early and late freezes, and extreme temp variations. I am pretty attached to this lovely plant. I planned to plant I out this fall and mulch heavily, placing her in my apple tree guild in full sun. We get -20 F occasionally, some freezing and thawing throughout the winter and quite a bit of cold wind. I am now wondering if she wouldn’t be happier as a potted plant who came in in the winter with the white sage and geraniums. Any idea if she would be happy in a south window in the house all winter? is this plant deciduous? Thanks for any insight you can provide. As an example white sage does not survive the winters here…although it is a bit more tender.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kate, Yes, nirgundi drops its leaves in the fall. Minimum winter hardiness Zone 6 so your Zone 5 is too cold for it. They work well as a multistemmed potted plant, may be kept trimmed back, and will live through their dormancy in a light room, protected from frost and watered minimally.
Richo
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Sue Eddy –
I have grown both varieties successfully in Wichita, KS and Lucas,Ks. with the V. agnus castus growing elegantly and about 6 feet tall. The Nirgundi is a handsome specimen on the east side of the brick house as well as on a slope with southern exposure on the west side. Nirgundi is also self-seeding there to our surprise and delight. Both of these shrubs were grown from seed I saved over 5 years ago from Strickly Medicinals. This plant is a true kin to many insects. So pleased to live close to it!
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May –
Dose deer eat this plant?
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Richo Cech –
hello may, not that i know of, not in particular, it is more or less a tree of the Mediterranean and deer as a rule don’t like to eat mediterranean herbs. r
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