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Vitex keniensis
Lamiaceae FAMILY Endangered

Vitex keniensis

Vitex keniensis

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Tree
GrowthFast

A plant of the moist tropics where it is found growing at elevations up to 2,100 metres[1]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 20°c, though it can tolerate 12 - 28°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 1,800 - 2,200mm, tolerating 1,500 - 2,500mm[1]. Prefers a sunny position in a well-drained, deep, sandy-loam soil[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[1]. The tree coppices well[2].

Propagation

Seed - when dried, it remains viable for at least 12 months in hermetic storage at 3°c[3]. The seed has a dormancy that is probably physical - pre-soaking in cold water for 24 hours may improve germination rates. Sow the seed in a nursery seedbed. Germination is low and sporadic, typically 40 - 60% after 2 - 3 months[3]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vitex+keniensis>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  2. [2]Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria — UNEP-WCMC; Cambridge. · 1999 · http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/species/tree_study/ ↩︎A document produced by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1999. It contains fact sheets on more than 200 tree species from around the globe.
  3. [3]Seed Leaflets — Various · Forest & Landscape. Denmark · http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title ↩︎A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.
  4. [4]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  5. [5]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.