Vitex doniana, commonly known as Black Plum, is a deciduous tree native to savannas, woodlands, and forests of the Afrotropics. It is found across a range of countries including Ethiopia, Nigeria, Eswatini, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. This species typically grows to a height of 13-26 feet, but can occasionally reach up to 49 feet. The Black Plum produces small, white flowers and has a fruiting season where it bears purple to black fruits that are about 1 inch long, which are edible and have a sweet taste.

The Black Plum is valued for its fruits, which are consumed fresh or used in traditional dishes. It is also planted for its medicinal properties, as various parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine. The tree is known to thrive in full sun or partial shade, and it prefers well-drained soils. While it is not commonly seen in ornamental cultivation outside its native range, it can be used in reforestation projects and as a shade tree in agroforestry systems. Gardeners should be aware that the plant can be susceptible to pests such as the mealybug Rastrococcus invadens. Additionally, the presence of phytoecdysteroids in the plant has sparked interest for potential pharmaceutical applications.CC BY-SA 4.0