What is beach vitex?
Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is an exotic, deciduous, woody shrub that does not grow tall but forms thick patches by long runners at the soil surface. It is in the same genus as the commonly planted ornamental, chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus), and has flowers similar to those of the chastetree. The main difference between beach vitex and chastetree is that beach vitex, as the name implies, tolerates the harsh conditions of beach dunes. Beach vitex can tolerate droughty conditions of the sand dunes, can tolerate salt spray from the ocean and is not eaten by deer. Although beach vitex will also grow on the marsh side of barrier islands and coastal areas, it is not found in the tidal zone. Beach vitex on the left of the pathway and native sand dune species on the right on a front dune on Pawleys Island. Photograph by C. A. Gresham, Clemson University.
