Vitex lucens aka Pururi

Vitex lucens is an evergreen tree from New Zealand’s North Island. Its common names include puriri and New Zealand chaste tree. It belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Kew places it in a seasonally dry tropical climate. It keeps its broad leaves through the year. Its spreading branches form a rounded crown as it grows. This makes the crown an important part of its shape.

Oregon State gives a height range of 30–60 feet [9–20 metres]. The leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems. Each leaf is palmately compound, with three or five leaflets. In five-leaflet leaves, the two at the base are much smaller. The other three leaflets make up most of the leaf. Their shapes range from broad near the tip to long and oval. Each leaflet ends in a point, which may be short or drawn out. The edges are wavy but have no teeth. Their dark green surfaces have a clear shine. The species name, lucens, refers to this bright, shining quality.

The flowers are pink or red, though white flowers sometimes occur. Their tubular form contrasts with the broad, glossy leaves. The flowers grow in panicles where leaves meet the stems. Oregon State describes two petals that together form four lobes. Four long stamens extend from each flower. The flowers supply nectar and draw many birds. Bright red fruits add another clear feature to the tree. Each fruit is round, and the crop ripens in spring. Birds also visit the tree for these fruits. The evidence does not give a flowering season for this species.

For cultivation, Oregon State lists sun as the light requirement. It places the tree in USDA hardiness Zone 9. Its evergreen crown, flowers, and red fruit provide its main visual features. Its nectar and fruit also give birds reasons to visit. Oregon State notes that people tend to find the fruit unappealing in taste. That comment does not establish its safety as human food. The supplied sources give no specific toxicity guidance. They also provide no species-level details on watering, soil, or pruning. No pest or disease problems are identified in the supplied evidence.