vitex in my experience is VERY slow growing. they CAN grow into smallish trees, but we're talk 7-8 feet, maybe a bit more. and they're not nearly so dense as crepe myrtles.

they're really not comparable to crepe myrtles.

Ill, that's strange. Vitex in my experience has been very FAST growing. I had a seedling last summer that is now about 4 feet high. I prune off the suckers to maintain a single trunk. My sources say they can hit 15-20 feet, depending on the species: V. angus-castus or V. negundo, which is the one that I grow.

I agree that they are not really comparable to crepe myrtle. They do have some similar growth habits. But Vitex are more sparse and do not grow as high. They are both leafless for similar amounts of time (roughly November through April). Both stand up to drought and heat very well. so...

Much as I love Vitex... Florie, for your purposes, go with crepe myrtle.

yeah, the difference here might be that my vitex is xeriscaped in my front... if yours is under irrigation, then maybe its behavior will differ. i planted my vitex and my crepes at the same time -- vitex, 5 feet, crepe 15 feet...

Thanks so much for the information- a wide variety of experiences, to be sure! I think I will go with crepe myrtles for that area, but I have a lot of bee and butterfly attracting plants growing and like the idea of vitex. I will give vitex a shot too, but in a different area. It will get regular water (we have reclaimed water and where I am thinking of is near, but not next to, a retention pond) and good sun, so I am hoping for good, quick growth.

I had a similar experience with my vitex as musicman (musicman, did you buy it at USF Botanical gardens shop? I did)
I planted it last year, one gallon container...It has gotten big, but the foliage is not dense enough for a privacy fence.
I water regularly and heavily amended the soil for it.
First blooms are opening - I promise pictures in about a week :) Beautiful plant!!!
Olya

Olya,

No actually, my vitex came from an online vendor. That's part of what I mean by VERY fast: It was a tiny seedling that came in a box as part of my online order... a 5-inch plant in a little cup. One year later it is about 4 feet tall, thriving its brains out and with hardly any care.

Please, all of you, post pictures of your vitex. I read about it on Floridata and now want one, too, but need to see more pictures to figure out if it would go well between my three Sabal Palms at the southwest corner of the house.

My Vitex is about 4 feet tall after 2 years in an amended bed with irrigation. It is growing in mostly shade with only late afternoon sun. I have propagated it both from cuttings and from seed. Mine is starting to bloom now, and while I agree it doesn't compare with a crepe myrtle, it is still a lovely little tree. Here are pictures of it -

nova

Thanks for th pictures- I really want one!

I have a Vitex tree that is just coming into bloom. I cut it back each year after the first bloom, so I keep it a managable size. The difference for me is that the Chaste trees are great butterfly and hummingbird attractors, while the Crepe Myrtles get primarily bees, in my experience.

The Vitex will also attract hummingbirds, and, of course, bees. In Central Florida the Vitex blooms once, right now, and then very sporadically after. The blooms, however, are quite fragrant.

and the foliage is very fragrant -- reminds me strongly of lavender with just a bit of musk. i would grow it even without the blooms.

Nova ~ Thanks for posting pictures of your Vitex.

Tom ~ Thanks for the info about it being butterfly, bee and hummingbird attractor.

Ill ~ Thanks for telling that the foliage is very fragrant.

This shrub/tree sounds just wonderful to me.

FlowerLady