Delta Blues Chaste Tree

Vitex agnus-castus ‘PIIVAC-I’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Tree

Height at Maturity: 8-10′

Width at Maturity: 8-10′

Spacing: 6′ for solid hedge; 14’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Broad, Upright

Growth Rate: Very Fast

Flower Color: Rich Purple Blue

Flower Size: Large, 8-10″ long x 1 – 1.5″ wide

Flowering Period: Late Spring, Summer

Flower Type: Single, in long terminal spikes

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Gray-Green

Fragrant Foliage: Yes, aromatic

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, very low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist to somewhat dry, well-drained

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5 (Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Very low when left in it’s natural form

Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinating Insects, Song Birds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Heat, Insect, Wet Soils

Description

The first mid-size Vitex to come on the market, Delta Blues Chaste Tree is a fast growing small tree or large shrub that produces an abundance of fragrant, nectar-rich, dark bluish-purple flower spikes resembling perennial Salvia. The flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds, butterflies and other beneficial pollinating insects. After the flowers, birds will have a fiesta with the shiny red seeds in the fall, especially red cardinals. If you are into birds, this is a must have tree that will provide a free source of food for your feathered friends. The more refined, sage-scented gray-green leaves resemble Japanese maple leaves adding a delicate texture, pleasing color, and sensory appeal in the landscape. Depending on your preference, Delta Blues Chaste Tree quickly grows into a multi or single-trunk shrub or small tree to about 15 feet tall and wide.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Depending on your preference, the Delta Blues Chaste Tree quickly grows into a multi- or single-trunk large shrub or small tree to about 8 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. In design, we use it as we do upright Japanese maple: as a focal point specimen tree, in groupings of three or more where space allows, or to frame the corners of homes and other structures. Grown as a shrub in straight or staggered rows it makes a colorful hedge and looks especially nice around garden ponds and other bodies of water and in rock gardens. A fine addition to blue theme gardens, bird gardens and butterfly gardens!

Suggested Spacing: 6 feet apart for solid hedge; 14 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a, where this Vitex variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Chaste Tree will grow in most any average soil, including clay soils. It prefers a moist but well-drained soil however will tolerate temporary wet conditions. As with so many other ornamental shrubs and trees, constantly wet soil can be problematic. Good drought tolerance when established.

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 an unusually cold winter. If so, cut the plant back to the ground like you would a butterfly bush and it will quickly regrow to a 4 to 6′ shrub.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Vitex Chaste Trees.

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!

I think the plants from Wilson Brothers are above and beyond any I find elsewhere on the internet. I have ordered a number of them and its always such a pleasure to open the box upon arrival here to find a perfect specimen! Thank you for the wonderful plants available.—————————————————————–You’re very welcome. Thanks for the kind words and awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My Vitex plant arrived expertly wrapped and in perfect condition. It’s doing nicely and I am looking forward to years of beautiful blooms. All of the plants I have ordered from Wilson Bros. have been healthy and expertly shipped.—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Arrived mid-September fully leafed out and with numerous flower clusters on it. It is growing nicely and I expect it to do well next year.———————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

First, we would like to say we have never bought a plant online that was packed as well as this one. It was amazing! When we received our tree (we plan on shaping it into a tree after it grows a bit) back in the spring, we had an unusual snow and freeze so we decided not to plant it just yet. Then we had copious amounts of rainfall and the ground was just muck so again we waited. We finally got it planted after several weeks of it sitting on our covered porch. Then we got the 17 year cicadas! So we covered it with row cover and hoped for the best. At this point the tree still looked to be in as excellent condition as it was when we received it. Well, just a couple of weeks ago we were finally able to take the row cover off and found a lovely fat little shrub with multiple buds all over it. It is now blooming it’s little head off and looks great. Thank you so much for the care you put into your plants and the packaging to get them safely to their destination. I’m sure we will be back for more plants in the future.—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I received my Delta Blue Vitex in perfect condition. Packaging was exceptional. The plant was very healthy and just as described. Could not be any happier. Planted it the next day after some acclimatization to my area and some watering. It’s already grown a couple inches and is happy in its new home. Super purchase! Would buy again no hesitation.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I order 3 plants all arrived safely. The packaging was great. No damage to the plants. Planting instructions was straight forward. The plants are wonderful and doing great. Looking forward to the full blooms. Can’t wait to see the growth and overall size.—————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The shrub I ordered showed quick and I can tell it has been grown with love. Sadly mine got the top quarter of the box smashed in shipping but luckily it only broke a handful of the tops. I’m still giving five stars as they have little control once its shipped.———————————–Thanks for being so understanding….we wish we could hand deliver every plant. Don’t ever hesitate to contact Customer Service if need be. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks so much for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered these as a birthday present for my sister in law. Part of the gift is that I would plant them. I had them delivered to her home then went over to plant them. The plants were healthy and beautiful. I hope they give her years of happiness.—————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope she enjoys them for years to come! Thanks for the great review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Arrived packaged great and beautiful. Always so very pleased with the plants purchased.———————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

We have just received the plants, they are very well leafed out , and came very well protected in the packaging. Too soon to tell how the plants will do, but so far so good. We are very pleased with the service provided by Wilson brothers gardens.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Arrived in well packed box. I ordered two and both are growing rapidly. I can’t wait for them to mature to the size of one that I have nurtured for a few years beside my deck. When in bloom, they are absolutely gorgeous and attract many beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds.—————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Gift for daughter who does not have green thumb. Arrived in timely manner and it’s a beauty! Making me wish I ordered one. After care instructions are so detailed. Made just for her! Will order from them again.————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope she enjoy’s it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Plant was very heathy and has already started flushing with new blooms.
Very Happy with my purchase.————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

I am so pleased – the tree was in great shape when it arrived, the packaging held the tree securely during shipping. The tree is healthy and has a beautiful shape, and it’s thriving. I am thrilled with this purchase.—————————————Thanks so much for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This bush arrived on time, carefully packaged, in great condition. I planted it according to the instructions and it seems to be thriving nicely.———————————Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

Delta Blues Vitex tree grows well in North Dallas area. Dark blue flowers and great looking leaves are beautiful. I have alkaline soil. I amended soil with soil for trees and shrubs to drain to improve drainage. I fertilize once a year with oscomote brand slow release fertilizer. Easy to care for and doesn’t seem to mind our hot summers. I have a sprinkler system and water deep twice a week (40 minutes total each week) during June-September. It looks great in my garden, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and bees. It loses it’s leaves in the winter. It’s care reminds me of a crepe myrtle….easy and pretty.

Arrived in one piece and looks good so far. Hard to tell until it grows into a tree!————————WBG Reply: Hi Danielle, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Delta Blues Chaste Tree. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Customer service is the best I have ever experienced. All plants packaged extremely well and in timely manner. I was happy with the quality of everything. A tad disappointed in size of hydrangeas. The chaste delta blue exceeded expectations. That being said I will order again and will recommend Wilson Bros to friends. Thanks for all your patience and for the service. Karen Roberts———————————WBG Reply: Hi Karen, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Delta Blues Vitex. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy all your plants for years to come! And as far as the size of the hydrangea, when they are coming out of dormancy in Spring, they may not look very full on top, but they do have a full root system and will take off when planted. Thanks!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I couldn’t be more happy with my purchase. The communications were great. The chaste trees arrived quickly and the quality of the plant was awesome.————————–WBG Reply: Hi Tra, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Delta Blues Chaste Tree-Vitex. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

First time ordering trees or plants online. I could not be happier with my 3 Delta Blue Chastetrees. Packaged and delivered perfectly. No one in Albany had this tree, so I went online and found Wilson Bros and Spencer. ——————– WBG Reply: Hi Ben – We’re glad you found us and it has been our pleasure to have served you and met your needs. Thanks for your review of the Delta Blues Chaste Trees and the compliments. Hope you enjoy this magnificent tree for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

A very healthy bush, Beautiful!! Thank You Very Much! ——— WBG Reply: Hi Sonya – Thank you very much! We appreciate you taking the time to provide your review. Hope you enjoy your new Chastetree. We certainly appreciate the one we planted about 4 years ago right beside our office. It’s grown from about 3-feet tall at planting time to at least 12 to 14 feet tall right now. We just took and put a picture of it on the Chaste Tree page a few days ago. Let us know of there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

The tree arrived well wrapped and adequately watered. It had blossoms revealing color and made a great presentation as a gift.