Thursday, February 19, 2009

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!

43 comments:

  1. Good morning Tina, we have a Vitex in the Learning Garden and it has the palmated leaves like the first image. I have in my garden my own pot plant... Hibiscus coccinea. I have had many people ask about that one.
    As for the other 'vitex' I am not sure ...might kill a little time surfing the net trying to do an id.
    Janet

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  2. Well, that didn't take too long. It is a Vitex. Vitex rotundifolia. They call it Beach vitex. We have it here, Virginia Beach area and it is invasive. Perhaps your area does not allow it to spread as yours is not sandy soil. It was put down for beach erosion...oops. Almost as bad as Kudzu.
    Janet

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  3. The grown one looks awesome. Its blooms look extra sweet and the tree requires no watering? Wow! That scores the tree highest.

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  4. Should have added this link.. http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&enlarge=0000+0000+1205+0887

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  5. I love their scented leaves...and pretty spiked flower heads. The one I have here hasn't done as well as I hoped. It's taking up valuable real estate; so it may move to the mosaic shed garden!

    Gail

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  6. I'm fascinated by how completely different the leaves are. Am I being stupid, am I looking at the wrong thing? I can see the pot-like one, sure enough, but the one with the beautiful blue flowers has leaves just like a camellia! Is it growing through one?

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  7. A neighbor has a vitex that is hugh! I pass it on my walks. When it is in bloom, I smell the sweet fragrance long before I see it!

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  8. Hi Tina, way to go Janet for the ID! Offspring Semi has 8 vitex on the hill that I planted in November of 2003 when they had just bought their new house. Cost, 25 cents each at Lowe's. They are now at least fifteen feet tall and bloom like crazy, usually two or three times. And of course they get no care whatsoever. They do look like pot leaves though. HA
    Frances

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  9. Good Morning Everyone,
    Tina I've never heard of this tree. Although I don't know my trees very well. I think the one with the blue flower is very lovely. And the smell I'm sure is out of this world.
    Raining here. Stormy in fact. Freezing by Saturday.
    Have a marvelous day all.

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  10. Janet, I am thinking I may rip it out then. Can't have invasive species here. I did search and Beach Vitex is exactly the same! But I can't find if it is a problem here. So far in three years it has grown up and not spread by runners. It is in an extremely dry spot so that is probably why, and a bit shady. It is so pretty and neat but not with that reputation:( Thank you so much for idenitfying it for me! I am so excited to have it identified. The next thing I think is if the flea market person went to the beach and dug it up and then sold it. A bad thing.

    Chandramouli, Yup, no watering and it is a lovely tree-not the beach stuff so much anymore. Do you grow it in India?

    Gail, Might indeed be time to move it. I really love these trees an awful lot. I'm surprised there aren't more.

    EB, The one with the up close of the flower is a totally different type, it is Beach Vitex, an invasive species on our beaches. I think it strange they are so different but botanical classifications don't go on looks for sure.

    Linda, Aren't they wonderful? I bet the vitex tree would do great in your area. I just love the pretty blue flowers. The other one here may have to say goodbye soon though:(

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  11. Frances, What a steal on those vitex! And they grew really fast. Mine is a bit slower, not so much sun I think. Janet is a gem for sure. Now I'm trying to figure out if I need to pull it or not.

    Lola, Stay inside and warm. It is cold here but I plan to do some pruning today. This tree is pretty sweet for sure.

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  12. Hmm, I think you might disguising the true nature of your garden behind similarly looking plants! It does look very similar although I have no experience to draw from. That is one huge bush next to the college!

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  13. Sounds and looks wonderful! Growing well without needing to be watered and drought-tolerant too! Beautiful blooms with a spicy smell...what a great tree!
    The not -having-to-water part sounds so good because I have to water twice a day now. It's getting warm here.

    Happy pruning, Tina.

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  14. Hi Tina, that's too bad about your little vitex, especially since you've been happy with it. I read it was imported by the U of NC--when will they ever learn not to bring alien species here?
    Marnie

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  15. very funny about walking around at the flea market. i guess people were jumping to conclusions about your plant. tell us what you do about the beach vitex. have a good weekend, tina.

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  16. What an interesting tree. Love anything that blooms blue. Love the flea market story.

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  17. Sorry to hear about the beach vitex. What will you do?

    I have two chaste trees and just love them. One of them is a real traffic-stopper in the front garden when it's in bloom.

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  18. Dave, Don't tell my neighbors-they'll all be over here searching for good stuff-shh-not!:)

    Kanak, Yes, a great tree-for here too. It seems early to be watering already-urrr! I hope it is not a sign of what is to come here, but I fear it is. Thanks on the pruning-gotta get there. Time is slipping away.

    Marnie, I know right? I searched the Tennessee Invasive Plant Species site and beach vitex is not listed, the jury is still out though. I may just let it go to see what it does. So far no runners, just a long vine (4 feet in about 3 years)

    Marmee, You know these Tennesseans, they were just having fun and wanted talk. It was fun. I'll let you all know on the beach vitex. May do a wait and see. Have a nice visit in sunny Florida.

    Darla, You too have blue this morning!

    Susan, Maybe a wait and see. Just because the beach vitex is not listed doesn't mean it won't be invasive, but I need to do further investigating. Glad to hear vitex grow in your part of the country. I bet they look great with the pecans!

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  19. Yikes, Scarry. I don't know How I feel about inavasive species! I am sure you will do the right thins with this Vixen. The "pot plant" is hillarious, I wonder how many people you will have comming over to check out your "pot"! lol

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  20. Zach, You are a funny guy this morning. I don't think as many folks will come to check it out as you think, but the title is an eyecatcher. How else to put it though? Many folks in my area don't know of vitex, or at least there aren't so many trees and it is a great tree. The one at the college catches everyone's eye.

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  21. Tina - Even though you have to trellis that one Vitex? it's form and flower are very pleasing. And Lillian is here to say hi ksjd;fk...that's her typing..haha.

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  22. Hibiscus coccineus will draw funny looks too! When I took a class in plant idea at NCSU, the professor there told us that *every* year someone called asking about a tall plant with red flowers -- is it marijuana?

    I love Vitex. I finally got one last year. I love the color and the bees love it too!

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  23. I had never heard of this tree but it sounds like a good one. If it has not spred by now I think I would keep it around. If it starts spreding too much then you can say bye-bye. Would be a shame to jump the gun and trash it now when it may be okay.

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  24. Your Chaste looks marvelously chaste growing on that trellis. And I think your chaste gardening techniques are absolutely charming.

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  25. My mom beat me to "In the Garden" this morning! She emailed me with pic of their "Pot Plant" They refer to it as the Blue Bush. I have seen it when in full bloom and it is a beauty. I wonder if I could take a clipping and stick in water to make my own Pot Plant? I forwarded the email from my mom to you Tina so go check it out. Not sure when they planted it but it is growing like a "Weed" ha, I made a pun.... tee hee...

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  26. So that's why the airplanes keep circling overhead! :-)

    Cameron

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  27. Cindy, Gotta get Lillian her own computer soon:)

    Sweetbay and Janet, I need to see that hibiscus!

    Mom, Yup, think I'll take a wait and see. Vines scare me though:)Think kudzu.

    TC, Your flair for words astounds me.

    Skeeter, Watch those puns now-gotta make sure folks know we are kidding! Not sure on the propagation but in Sandy's yard it self seeds so your parents should look for many babies with all those blooms! Then they could surely share the love with you. I posted a pic of your parent's BEAUTIFUL specimen.

    Cameron, So that is why those aircraft are all over the place. That explains it!:)

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  28. Yeh, I think you should keep the beach one too, it looks fine even after several years. Gee, wish we could grow a blue blooming tree up here, even if it looks like it has pot leafs. On second thought.....who would want "unwelcomed visitors" picking at your tree! :)

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  29. The chaste is very pretty, I've never seen one before. Those flowers are just beautiful. The leaves do look a lot like pot leaves and I do think it's pretty interesting that they name is chaste. I don't think I would have ever thought about that on my own :)

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  30. It does look like a pot leaf :)
    Glad you got such a fast ID for your unknown Vitex from Janet. Aren't bloggers great helpers?
    I hope your little beach vitex stays under control so that you can allow it to remain in your garden.

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  31. Hi Tina~
    It sure does look like a pot leaf! I have cleome (spider flower?) in my garden and it also has leaves that look like pot. I wonder if they're all related in some way?

    Vitex blossoms look pretty!

    Karrita

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  32. I can imagine you got strange looks...
    I have Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort) in my garden, who's leaves have only a slight resemblance to hemp, but some friends of mine thought I had hemp in my herb garden.

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  33. I Bet my dad has been cutting them down with the mower and not knowing it! lol, I will pass on the word as mom does not read the comments all the time.... Thanks for the info....

    Wind is blowing wild today! I can only assume the same for TN as my dad emailed me and said if he had a windmill today, he would be rolling in dough.... lol....

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  34. I've never seen a chaste tree before, they must not grow around here. Very pretty though!

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  35. Several houses in my neighborhood have these beautiful trees. They are not quite as popular as the Crepe yet, but close. I've been considering one for years, but thought they were borderline hardy for our area. Now I'll have to do more research. Thanks, great post! And Skeeter, your Mom's tree is gorgeous!

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  36. Skeeter your parents "pot tree" is just mafnificence!!!

    Amazing how many people know what pot looks like. I must really be an ole prude cause I don't think I could id one. Maybe I should learn. I always heard they looked something like tomatoes.

    Tina and Dawn I forgot to tell you but they put tubes in Christy's ears yesterday. Hope it helps. Ever since she went in the army she has had one infection after another. Also I probabaly will not be on till later in the afternoon tomorrow. My 91 year old man that goes to Bowdoin College to swim and run the track every other day wants a computer lesson tomorrow. Sometimes I am there hours. I think he just wants company and an excuse to give me some money. He says he can't open the paper clip in his e-mail so I will go show him once again.

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  37. Hi Tina, thanks for the 'shout out'. Glad I was able to do it. Heard a short segment on PBS radio and a local guy was talking about an invasive vitex in VA Beach and I was intrigued, the info was still in the 'active file' of the brain. Love the photo of the Chaste tree in bloom. It is a beautiful tree and the bees love the flowers.

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  38. I've never heard of a vitex, but it's an interesting looking tree. I can imagine the looks you got carrying it around, though:)

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  39. Tina, I was talking to my mom on the phone last night and we talked about the “Blue Bush” and she said that theirs have never had any sprouts come up. They have been looking for them. Also that dad has tried to root some cuttings in water before with little luck. I bet Dave could propagate them!

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  40. Chaste tree doesn't grow here, so it was interesting learning about it.

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  41. ...and I still have seedlings of my own "pot" plant germinating whenever it rains. The original plant was a little tree, manihot (aka casava, tapioca) that shot seeds out of noisy, exploding seed pods everywhere in the warm fall weather. The tree's been gone 4-5 years, but there's still seedlings coming up...

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  42. That flowering Chaste Tree is so pretty! Lovely shade of lavender.

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  43. I just love Vitex, it grows so fast and has so many beautiful blooms. I wish we had planted more, but we are out of room now.:-(--Randy

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