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Butterfly Garden

Blue Vitex

7 years ago

Some years back I had gotten some blue vitex/chaste tree seeds from a seed exchange that people on the forum were participating in. My seeds germinated and I planted two bushes here at our place. I don't know if I didn't plant them at a good spot (I thought I did though) or what but after a couple years the one died, and now this year the second one has failed to make an appearance, so I'm assuming that they're both dead now. Neither of them got very big, and I'm not sure if the butterflies were interested in them or not. I would like to know if anyone here has had any experience with this kind of bush and if it it needs special care. Were the butterflies attracted to it there? I'm trying to decide if I want to try locating more seeds of this plant and start more or if the butterflies aren't even attracted to it. I had seen it at a local nursery at least five years ago and thought that the flowers were such a pretty blue. I would have bought it, but they wanted $25 for it and it was only about a foot tall and not in a very big pot. If it would have been maybe $15, I probably would have bought it.

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Comments (9)

roper2008
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

I have a Vitex plant that is large now. The butterflies and bee's love it. I can send you some seeds later this summer if you remind me. It hasn't bloomed yet. The flowers are purple like lavender.

This is a video I took of it in 2012.
caterwallin
Original Author
7 years ago
Nice video! The bees sure love the flowers. I'd love to try growing it again, so thank you very much for your offer of seeds. I will get in touch with you in a few months if I can figure out how to do that. Since this forum was changed and I don't get on as much as I'd like, I haven't gotten a chance to look around at the features like private messaging. Thanks again for your offer.

Cathy
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years ago
What's your general location, Cathy? Is Vitex hardy in your area?
Jay 6a Chicago
7 years ago
I am in zone 6a and planted seeds.I grew one plant that grew to a 3 to 4ft bush and would die all the way to the ground in winter.After about 2 winters it never returned. I got the seeds from southern Texas where it grows into a full fledged tree and doesn't die to the ground in winter.I never tried growing it again,I think it needs a warmer zone.
caterwallin
Original Author
7 years ago
I'm in central PA, previously 6A, now 6B since they updated the zones. I was told that the blue vitex is hardy in my area, but I don't know now that I had two of them die. I was willing to give in another shot though because I just love the flowers, also the plant has a unique odor that I happen to like.
Jay 6a Chicago
7 years ago
Yes, I love the smell of the plant.A bit like lavender maybe,but more exotic.The area in Texas where I got my seeds must have had a more acidic soil because the vitex there were a deep blue, but my plant's flowers were more pink.I added an acidifier, but it didn't come back following spring.Hope you have better results than me.
Tom
7 years ago
I have a large Vitex in zone 9 B. It is beautiful when it blooms and the butterflies and other pollinators (hummingbirds) like it. However, I'm not sure if I would plant it again. It blooms once for me for about three weeks and then there are only some sporadic blooms. For now I'm going to leave it. It's too big and pretty to dig out.
roper2008
7 years ago
Yes, it has one major bloom, but it's worth it to me. Also the cardinals in the winter here eat the seeds. So it's also a food source for the birds.
nowyousedum
7 years ago
I'm new to the butterfly forum, but not to gardening or Gardenweb. I love my vitex! I planted 1 about 4 years ago, then 2 more last year. They bloom forever in my zone.

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?what to do with this little guy?

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