My two vitex trees I am still attempting to train to look more like double trunked trees. Each winter they go dormant and drop their leaves, and then in early spring I attempt to prune away all the wild bushy growth and keep only the thickest trunks, but by early summer they are in full bloom and have grown so well that they once again look more like shrubs than trees. They are both well established and the thickest trunks I have seen on them are only about an inch or so wide in diameter. The tree in St Louis that I saw in the photo of was double trunked and both the trunks appeared to be at least 6 inches, maybe even more in diameter. It certainly was a most beautifull tree, and that photo was what inspired me to plant my two, with the goal of achieving the same form of tree with each of them. At the rate mine is progressing, it could take another 5 years before mine begin keeping the tree look instead of reverting to looking more like very full shrubs, which I need to do such drastic pruning on just to return them starting out in the following spring to appear in a more tree like form.

Kville, I would love to have it, thank you! Just email me this winter whenever is best for you and I can meet you in Kville to pick it up. DH works over there, and I visit a gardening friend, so I'm not a stranger to the area. Thanks Again!

Cynthia, my three Sweet Almond Verbena bushes are getting to be pretty good size trees also. The one that gets water from the other plants that are watered around it is always in bloom. I'm also using the 'Carrie method' to trim them ... :-) I'm super glad to hear that Vitex trees grow so fast. I planted two this year, one white and one purple flowered. I've never seen for sale the beautiful varigated and purple leafed varieties shown in the link below. Have any of you? Here is a link that might be useful: Scroll down to see several varieties of Vitex in Linda Collins' Rockport garden ...

Annnnnnnnnnnnnd here's a link: Here is a link that might be useful: Carrie's Vitex tree and more ...