Rock Steady Chaste Tree (Vitex) - 3 Gallon Pot
$62.98
Sale price
$62.98
Regular price
$90.00
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Rock Steady Chaste Tree (Vitex) - 3 Gallon Pot
$62.98
Sale price
$62.98
Regular price
$90.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Description
Rock Steady Chaste Tree
Vitex agnus-castus 'V12-2-1' USPPAF
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Tree
Height at Maturity: 4-12'
Width at Maturity: 4-5'
Spacing: 4.5' for solid hedge; 10'+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Broad, Upright
Growth Rate: Very Fast
Flower Color: Lavender-Purple
Flower Size: Small in spire-like clusters
Flowering Period: Summer
Flower Type: Single, in spired clusters
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Soft-Green
Fragrant Foliage: Yes, aromatic
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun. We suggest 6 hours or more of direct sunlight daily
Water Needs: Average, Low when established
Soil Type: Clay (well-draining), Loam, Sandy, Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained
Soil pH: 6.0 - 7.5 (Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Very Low when left to grow naturally
Attracts: Butterflies, Beneficial Pollinators, Hummingbirds, Songbirds, Visual Attention,
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought (moderate when established), Heat, Insect, Periodic Wet Soils
Description
The Rock Steady Chaste Tree is unusually long-blooming for a Vitex, producing bountiful spires of lavender-purple flowers from late spring to frost! Nectar-rich, the flowers will surely attract and satisfy the appetites of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. Its lush, palmate leaves, which resemble those of Japanese maples, also provide outstanding texture to the landscape. With an upright open form reaching up to 12 feet tall but only 5 to 6 feet wide when left to grow naturally, Rock Steady is a good fit for smaller spaces where its larger growing cousins won't fit. With pruning, it can be kept at a lower height or smaller size for growing in containers or smaller garden spaces.
Some call Vitex the "Sage Tree" because its spikes of violet-blue flowers resemble those of blue sages (Salvia). When young and in bloom many also mistake it for a butterfly bush.
Wildlife Benefits
As mentioned, Vitex flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinators such as bees, who use them to make honey. If the spent flowers are left on the tree in the fall, seeds will form that cardinals and other birds absolutely love to dine on during the winter months. So, if you are into feeding the birds, this is a "must-have" plant that provides an accessible food source.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Depending on pruning, Rock Steady Chaste Tree grows 4 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. It is a fine accent in smaller garden spaces or grouped in larger landscape spaces. It responds well to pruning, so it can be kept smaller for growing in containers or where space is limited in smaller garden beds. It is a fine addition to bird gardens, butterfly gardens, hummingbird gardens, pollinator gardens, Asian theme gardens, cottage gardens, and purple theme gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 5 feet apart for solid hedge; 10 feet or more apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
Rock Steady Chaste Tree will grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility, including clay soil, and full to mostly sun. We suggest 6 hours or more of direct sunlight daily. It is moderately drought tolerant when established, only requiring supplemental water during prolonged summer drought. No pruning is necessary; however, it responds well to it for shaping purposes or to control size. Deadheading spent flowers encourages a heavier rebloom. We have yet to try it, but we think lower branches can be removed as this variety grows taller to form an attractive small tree.
Note: The chaste tree is cold hardy in USDA Zones 5a-9b. In USDA Zones 5 and 6, young plants might die back to the ground during a severe winter. If so, cut the plant back to the ground like a butterfly bush, and it will quickly regrow in spring.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below for helpful advice from our experts on planting and caring for a Vitex Chaste Tree.
How To Plant A Chaste Tree
How To Fertilize, Prune & Water A Chaste Tree
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us!
Care
To maintain the beauty and integrity of your purchase, we recommend treating it with care. Simple maintenance practices, such as gentle washing and proper storage, can effectively preserve the longevity of your favorites. We encourage you to refer to the care instructions included with each item, designed to help you keep your purchase in top condition.
Design
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