02/07/2024
“If you want a tough, yet gorgeous, shrub or small tree that is a butterfly/bee/hummingbird magnet, then vitex Shoal Creek is a must for your garden.
Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) is a native of China and India, although long ago it became naturalized throughout certain areas of the United States.
It has a long history as a medicinal plant. The English name "chaste tree" and the common name "monk's pepper" refer to beliefs that parts of the plant reduce libidinal desires. Early-American physicians used it to stimulate lactation and as an emmenagogic.
In the gardening world, it is known as a spectacular, butterfly-attracting plant. The 12-inch, fragrant flower spikes of deep lavender blue provide a wonderful addition to landscape color without the work involved with bedding plants.
This versatile plant can be trained as a large shrub or small multi-trunked tree about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. Shoal Creek vitex is more vigorous and produces larger flowers and deeper color than common vitex.
Once established, vitex is very drought tolerant and fits in well to a lower-maintenance landscape. It is deer-resistant in that deer will not eat it.
So whether you want to stimulate the presence of butterflies in your backyard with a drought-tolerant, pest-resistant plant, or whether you want to try some ancient herbal remedies, this Super Plant will make a statement in your garden.” Louisiana Extension
Our extension’s info. How to grow it in Florida
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/chaste-tree.html
105 Available at our MGV Plant Sale 2024 Alachua County May
Let Facebook remind you choose “interested” or “going” at Event section https://www.facebook.com/share/PRLLdXLMeKUJttWg/?mibextid=9l3rBW
Other Resources:
North Carolina’s https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vitex-agnus-castus-shoal-creek/
Original text from LSU Ag Center.
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_offices/research_stations/hammond/features/super_plants/spring/spring_2011/shoal-creek-vitex--louisiana-super-plant-spring-2011
