Vitex trifolia aka Indian Three Leaf Vitex

Vitex trifolia, also known as the simpleleaf chastetree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that typically grows 1-4 meters tall. Its stems are usually procumbent, often rooting at the nodes, and forming mats several meters in diameter. This large coastal shrub or small tree is sometimes prostrate or ascending in habit and is widely grown as an ornamental plant and hedge. However, it is also gathered from the wild for local medicinal use. Beach Vitex, a variety of Vitex trifolia, was introduced to the South Eastern United States in the mid-1980s to protect beaches from coastal erosion. However, within a few years, it spread rapidly through its runners and became a serious threat to native dune plants, nesting sites for sea turtles, and foraging and nesting areas for shorebirds from Georgia to Maryland. It is now illegal to sell, distribute or move this species from one property to another.