Shoal Creek Vitex, also called Chastetree, is a long-blooming small tree (or shrub) that is often planted around porches, patios, and decks for its beautiful summer flowers and its ability to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Shoal Creek Vitex blooms in the summer in clusters of violet flowers that resemble spikes. The tree is often planted where honey is marketed to promote excellent honey production. Since the flowers attract bees, locate it accordingly. The trunk is gray and blocky and somewhat ornamental. Besides its beauty, the leaves of the Shoal Creek Vitex are shaped like a hand and also boast of an aromatic quality.
Shoal Creek Vitex can be grown as a large, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub or small, 10 to 15 feet tall tree. It is hardy in Zones 7-9 and can be planted in full sun or partial shade. Chastetree prefers a loose, well-drained soil that is moist or on the dry side, not wet, but will tolerate drained clay or sandy soils. The tree often suffers from dieback in organic, mucky, or other soil which is kept too moist, but thrives particularly well in the heat. In the colder regions (USDA hardiness zone 7), Shoal Creek Vitex can be killed to the ground by severe winters and will need to be protected from winter winds; it is more often seen as a multi-stemmed shrub in its colder range. Shoal Creek Vitex is a fast-grower and can easily recover its size when cold weather prunes it. The vitex is shipped in a #1 pot with an average height between 12-18 inches.