The Pot Leaflike Chaste Tree: Dichotomy or what?

No silly! Not a real pot leaf! I promise! It sure does look like a pot leaf doesn't it? Or so I have been told. Geri and I visited the Nashville State Flea Market a few years ago where she purchased a Vitex agnus-castus, aka Chaste Tree. You should've seen the looks and questions we received as we walked around. Needless to say the 'pot plant' was quickly placed in the car. It is kind of funny that a tree with a name of 'Chaste' would have a leaf that looks just like a pot leaf (or at least I think it does).

All kidding aside, the Chaste tree is an OUTSTANDING and beautiful tree. It is right up there with crepes. The Chaste tree blooms at about the same time as the crepes, but its blooms are blue and shaped a bit differently-more loose.

The overall shape of a chaste tree is somewhat squat and rounded. It can grow to 25 feet tall. My Southern Living Book tells me these vitex can stay smaller in the upper south (our area), but I have seen many large specimens so take the advice for what it is worth and plan accordingly when siting your chaste tree, these guys will grow well here.

My little seedling pictured above is a new addition which I purchased from the Clarksville Garden Club's Plant Sale last fall. Unbeknownst to me, this seedling came from my friend Sandy's garden. I already have many plants growing in my garden that came from her garden. You can just make out the shape of the leaves with the characteristicly palmately shaped leaves. It is growing well and drought tolerant and I hope it gets big fast!
Now this little Chaste tree pictured both above and below has been growing in my garden for a few years now. At least I think it is a Chaste tree as that was what it was labeled when I bought it. It is an enigma to me though. I at one time had the type and variety but have long since lost that information. This is the second year it has bloomed and I just love the bloom. The bloom also has a spicy smell.
I purchased it at the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show and just knew I had received a jewel. I have been happy with it but it is not growing in a tree form at all. It tends to grow prostrate and I have had to trellis it to be able to enjoy it fully. Does anyone recognize this vitex? Is it even a vitex? Honestly with the way things are marked now a days it might be something else. The leaves are quite different from my other 'pot' tree, but nonetheless it was marked as a vitex.

Both of these trees are growing in the Northside Shrub Border in part sun in the driest area of the garden. Not only does the area not get rain, but the neighbor's tulip poplar sucks whatever moisture there is out of the soil. Can you say dry?! Very dry. Yet I have never had to water these vitex. How great is that?
Now to show you a mature specimen. This vitex grows on the campus of Nashville State Community College right in front of the library. All students walk past it when they go to their classes. It is a lovely tree with great blooms and I can envision mine looking this good one day.

in the garden....

Update: Janet from Queen of Seaford Blog identified my mystery vitex as Beach Vitex, an invasive beach species. I am not sure what I will do with mine, it might meet the compost bin very soon, we'll see. Thank you Janet!

Boy this post is getting a bunch of edits today. I wanted to add in a picture of Skeeter's parent's Chaste Tree, aka the 'Big Blue Bush' and aka 'The Pot Tree'. Isn't it beautiful?? Skeeter's parents took the picture-thanks!