Vitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’ (Chaste Tree)

Adding fresh, long-lasting color to the summer garden, Vitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’ (Chaste Tree) is a deciduous, vase-shaped shrub noted for its long blooming season and disease-resistant foliage. Growing with a dense, upright habit, it features sage-scented, grayish-green palmate (hand-shaped) leaves with five to seven leaflets and silvery undersides that flicker in the wind and produce a lovely effect. Highly ornamental, spectacular sprays, 12 in. long (30 cm), of small, fragrant, vibrant blue-violet flowers appear from summer to fall, attracting scores of butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Fast-growing and low maintenance, ‘Shoal Creek’ develops a naturally well-balanced shape and doesn’t require pruning. A wonderful addition to summer landscape color without the work involved with bedding plants!

• Exceptionally vigorous, ‘Shoal Creek’ grows, with a spreading habit, up to 4-15 ft. tall (120 – 450 cm) and 4-12 ft. wide (120-360 cm). This versatile plant can be trained as a large shrub or small multi-trunked tree. In cold winter areas, Chaste Tree grows only as a modest-sized perennial shrub because it often suffers winter dieback or dies to the ground. Even though plants may die to the ground (in Zone 5-6 winters), the roots often survive and push up as much as 4-7 ft. (120-210 cm) of new growth the following year.
• Winner of the Gold Medal Award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
• A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in loose, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Thrives in heat. Tolerates partial shade, but the best flower production occurs in full sun. In cold areas, provide a sheltered location such as a west- or south-facing building wall to protect it from the cold. Drought tolerant once established.
• Perfect as a specimen plant in lawn or shrub borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, and foundation plantings. Impressive when planted in a row along a property line or a driveway and lovely as a small patio tree.
•  No serious insect or disease problems. May occasionally develop fungal problems, such as leaf spots or root rot.
• Deer resistant. Salt tolerant.
• Blooms on new growth from the current season. Cutting back side branches by 1/3 during the first two or three years may help promote dense branch growth. Cut back in winter or early spring.
• Vitex agnus-castus species is native to Southern Europe and Central Asia. It is showing invasive tendencies in the southern United States, where it is warm enough for it to survive the winters.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.