My vitex has bloomed with astounding abundance this spring. I've never seen one tree/shrub have this many blooms. I guess the cold winter helped out lots of plants this year.
Crow
Vitex
That is really pretty, have you seen butterflies on it?
Dang! That is a lot of blooms!
Crow, that is gorgeous!. I bet people are stopping to take a look.
AHA! Texas lilac! Northerners don't have anything on us, now, do they?
Wow thats beutiful Crow. Now I gotta get one .
Wish mine looked like that. Do you do anything special for it?
I can't remember if I threw Ozmocote on it when I fertilized everything else this spring. It does attract lots of bees and butterflies and there's usually a dove's nest in there somewhere. Here's a photo of it last year so you can see how much it grew in one year. I pruned it in the fall, so it's fuller this year than last, but that's all I ever do to it. I did have a guy stop and take pictures of it last year with his cell phone. I went out to speak to him and he said he just wanted his wife to see the pic because she'd never believe him if he told her about it.
Crow
Thats pretty, how long does it stay in bloom?
what do they smell like? or do they have a scent?
C
They will bloom through the summer. It helps if you cut spent blooms before they go to seed. The leaves have a fresh astringent smell when brushed against or crushed, but it's not strong. Pest and disease free and drought tolerant once established. Happy in any soil.
Crow
Too bad you don't have shares in this plant. I bet the demand will go up with each passerby.
Beautiful vitex! I know one lady whose vitex attracted a lot of attention and people would pull over on the street to ask about it.
So gorgeous, Crow.
Yes, even though the winter was icky.....our plum tree gave us plums for the first time in five years. So I do believe there is always an upside to everything that happens.
The seeds can be used as a pepper substitute but they have an unfortunate effect on men in the bedroom.
What a gorgeous plant and a huge change in just on year of growth! I'm partial to blue and purple flowers so I'm planning to give this one a try! Thanks for sharing your photos! ~Karen
Where can I find one ??? and do Y'all thin it would survive a winter in SE Oklahoma
I have seen them at lots of places, even Lowe's, so it shouldn't be hard to find. It's listed as a Texas Superstar plant on the A&M website, so I think most nurseries now carry them.
Crow
WOW! That is one happy Vitex!!
Carla
I want to brag!!!
Smock, who is no relation but is my driver, has one just about the beautimus!!! He also grows the pink one!!!
When I was living @ his house & finishing my degree, I planted a 1g pot in his front yd where he had lost his big tree in the front yard.
It is huge now fr a 1g pot & taller than we are, to cut the spent blooms off. That is the key to keep them blooming. These things are huge trees in LA!!!
I'll get you pix of the one I planted in Katy tomorrow & post in the next few days since we are driving to the Indy 500 tomorrow!!
:~)
Grits,
If you want a specific variety, several online nurseries have them. I have ordered several Vitex varieties from Lazy S'S Farm Nursery. The plants were healthy and arrived in excellent condition.
http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Shrubs/S-Z Shrubs/shrubs_trees_T-Z.htm
I've never ordered from this nursery, but it's located in Oklahoma:
http://www.soonerplantfarm.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.kwSearchPost
http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/3273/
Otherwise, you can get the generic variety from box stores or local nurseries
just had to stop in and comment on the Vitex. beautiful!
mine are doing the same thing here in florida. i've never seen so many blooms. the cold winter was good for something after all i guess.
bluestone is having their blow out sale right now. i picked up a few more last year at this time. they arrive tiny but this is one plant that grows right before your eyes! 'Abbeville Blue' is the one they sell and it really is a star performer.
here is mine not quite in full bloom. When I bought this several years ago I did not know they came in anything but blue. I kept it but was disappointed. They are easy to root. I am in search of a blue one. I rooted this one easily so I am going to take cuttings of some blue ones along the highway.
Sandy, is this one white or pink? Smock grows them also!
You should see his. When we get back, I will post a pix!!! Definitely awesome, this yr!!!
This is a pale lavender/pink. Not really pink and not really lavender. I have not done any research on this color. It is pretty but it is not a a WOW like the blue one.
I hope to come see you when you get home "Sistah"
this one came last year from bluestone in a 4" pot. it's over my head and full of blooms!
I think mine is this one http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/84884/ So it is considered pink.
Yea, I bought a bunch of vitex after an A&M guy gave a talk. The one in a garden sends up shoots everywhere and has been impossible to kill.
The vitex out in the open and mowed around are more in control, at least on this property, don't know if birdies have dropped seeds on neighboring land. The link below from Fine Gardening August 2010 addresses invasive plants.
www.invasive.org/weeds/index.html
The vitex is considered invasive for multiple states, including TX.
I wonder why A&M would list a plant that's considered invasive as a Superstar? I know they also list the Chinese Pistache as a Superstar tree, and some say it's invasive too. Curious.
I've never had a problem with my vitex sending up new shoots though, so maybe it's only some cultivars?
mine don't send up any new shoots or suckers, just branches out from the bottom at all angles, but i cut those off.
seems everything i like is invasive.......sigh.
I definately get shoots on the vitex in the garden. The name of the plants I have is Vitex angus-castus. I'll post a pic tomorrow.
Low and behold! Greg Grant in Texas Gardening Jan/Feb 2010 called the Vitex a "...fragrant heirloom summer tree..."
So now I don't feel so bad so bad about keeping the trees.
Mine has not sent up suckers either. From what I have read they are also not easy to grow from seed.
I like the "fragrant heirloom" better than "invasive foreign plant" :)
I know the cemetary where all my family is buried in Village Mills, Texas has a vitex that is well over 50 years old and I've never seen another anywhere in the area, so it must not be too invasive if that ones been there that long and not spread.
crow which one is the "fragrant heirloom"?
I planted several of this plant a few years ago and DH consistently mowed over 3-4 plants for two years. I had forgotten where they were. While walking around I spied what I thought were bluebonnet rosettes. These turned out to be the Vitex that were mowed down and left alone. They are good sized trees now.
Below is a pic of a mother Vitex on the right and runners producing new plants to the left and a small Vitex just R of the almost gone walking path. The mother tree was really the best one I had, but it obscured my Sweet Olive, a rose bush and several other sun lovers and it's very invasive in this spot.
This message was edited Jun 1, 2010 9:03 AM
See one of the new off shoots here?
Legend has it there is an old Vitex near Alto, in east TX . I have not noticed other vitex in that area.
A few days ago, I noticed a nice Vitex nearby growing in a soil-rich looking garden. I wondered if they are having problems. Might have to get nosey.
The take away from me is watch where it is planted.
This message was edited Jun 1, 2010 9:14 AM
I have 2 vitex and plan on getting about 10 more to plant around our 4 acre garden area. I think they're beautiful and easy to maintain! Thanks for sharing your pictures
Deb
Ilovejesus, the "fragrant heirloom" bit I got from the above post from Antiquedrose:
"Greg Grant in Texas Gardening Jan/Feb 2010 called the Vitex a "...fragrant heirloom summer tree..."
Sorry, I don't know how to make this thing do quotes.....
Crow
No one mentioned if the deer leave them alone. I have five acres and only an area around my back yard fenced in. I want to put one out front where I have sage, mt. laurel, etc.
Not to be difficult but I don't recall them blooming all summer. There are several in full bloom around my neighborhood and they aren't that way all summer. For now though they are stunning.
C