Vitex agnus-castus aka Lilac Chastetree

Vitex agnus-castus, also known as Vitex, Chaste tree, Chastetree, Chasteberry, Abraham's balm, Lilac chastetree, or Monk's pepper, is a native plant of the Mediterranean region. It is a compact, rounded, bushy deciduous shrub with an open habit, reaching heights of up to 2.5m. The dark green foliage is aromatic and divided into 5-7 splayed leaflets. During the summer and autumn, upright spikes of fragrant pink flowers adorn the plant. If desired, it can be pruned hard in spring to maintain a smaller size. Chaste tree is a cross-pollinating plant but can also self-pollinate. The leaves of the chaste tree resemble those of the marijuana plant, with five leaflets arranged in a palm-shaped pattern and a fragrance similar to sage. The clusters of purple flowers, resembling those of the butterfly bush, can also be found in white varieties. The black fruit contains four peppercorn-like seeds, which are occasionally used for flavoring food. Although historically believed to be an anaphrodisiac, its effectiveness for such purposes remains unproven.