Rock Steady™ Chastetree (Vitex)
Shrub
- Long blooming, enjoy gorgeous purple flowers for up to 16 weeks!
- Attracts pollinators but deters deer.
- Heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, & durable shrub from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.
- Certified Deer Proof™ by Proven Winners® ColorChoice Shrubs.
- Zones 5b-9, sun, 4-12' tall & 4-5’ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a cottage garden favorite chosen for its toughness in the landscape. Gardeners with smoldering summers and frigid winters can enjoy this shrub as long as they plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Many will use chaste trees to attract pollinators to their landscape or to create a colorful privacy hedge.
Details
Common name: Chaste tree
Zone: 5b - 9
Sun exposure: Sun
Height x width: 4-12' tall and 4-5' wide
Flower color: Purple, lavender
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Summer
Bloom time: Late spring through fall
Features: Rare & unusual, Proven Winners, heat-tolerant, dry soils, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, best for beginners
Uses: Cottage gardening, ornamental, specimen plant, borders
How to Grow
Light: Full sun
Water: Dry to average
Space: Min. 4' apart.
Fertilizing: Apply a granular rose or garden fertilizer in early spring if desired. This may be particularly beneficial in the colder end of its hardiness range.
Winterizing: May die back to ground in colder climates
Maintenance & Pruning: Blooms on new wood - prune as needed in spring. May die back to the ground in winter in colder climates, which will naturally limit its height (new wood blooming ensures flowers each summer, however). In warmer areas, where dieback is minimal, prune as needed to develop the desired shape.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
