Vitex negundo is native to the wastelands and mixed thickets of the Himalayas, found at elevations ranging from 600 to 6,500 feet, and it carries that adaptability into cultivated gardens. Where summers are genuinely hot, it performs well in full sun with loose, moist, well-drained soil, producing blue flowers on 5- to 8-inch panicles in mid to late summer. Mature plants reach 10 to 15 feet, taller still in climates with mild winters. The foliage has an interesting chartreuse-gold cast and the open, vase-shaped branching gives the plant a relaxed presence in the landscape.

Like others in the genus, it blooms on new wood, which means cutting it to the ground in early spring is an effective way to invigorate growth and maintain manageable size. In zone 6 it is not reliably winter hardy and is best treated as a large perennial shrub, regenerating from the base after cold winters and reaching 3 to 5 feet by flowering time. Deadheading encourages a longer bloom period. Young stems have a history of use in basket weaving. Leaf spot and root rot are occasional problems in stressed plants but serious issues are uncommon.