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The Vitex is back in Mississippi fashion
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - May 26, 2003

A few years ago, my wife and I took a drive to L.A., that is, Lower Alabama, to attend a conference. It was the end of May and we were somewhere in the countryside west of Foley when we spotted a spectacular looking small tree. It was the centerpiece of a landscaped area and was full of gorgeous lavender blooms that just had to be photographed. Of course, I had forgotten my camera and had to ask a friend (R. Trosclair), who was also traveling with us, to snap the accompanying photo. The beautiful specimen we were admiring was the Lilac Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) often known only by its genus name, Vitex. The Vitex had recently received the prestigious Mississippi Medallion Award but none of our group had ever seen a mature tree. However, we all at once could imagine how nice it would look in our own front yards.

There are many outstanding plants to add to Mississippi landscapes that will perform well and look great if given proper lighting, water and nutrients. However, the Vitex brings some unique characteristics to the landscape that we should be aware of. First of all, there are those wonderful 5 to 7-inch flower racemes that are held upright above the foliage. These blooms arrive in mid to late May in south Mississippi along with the blooms of Magnolias and the earliest crepe myrtle flowers. The blooms will last at least a month in normal weather.

The Vitex foliage is also very unique being very similar to that of Japanese maple. Some say the foliage is marijuana-like in appearance but not enough to alarm the police. The tree matures at 15 to 20 feet tall as an upright, spreading tree with multiple trunks or as a single stem. It is considered hardy in all of Mississippi and will tolerate poor, sandy soil in full sunlight. Its durability and attractiveness make the Vitex a very good selection for our part of the country.

The Vitex has a long history going back to Europe where the leaves were used in religious ceremonies as a sedative. It was available in the U. S. during the late 1800's and at one time was a popular shrub. Plants, like clothing, seem to pass in and out of fashion affecting their availability. Right now, though, many nurseries in Mississippi have the Vitex ready for sale. It can be yours and would look great in your front yard! It should also be mentioned that the Vitex attracts hummingbirds. Happy Gardening!

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.