Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Blue Diddley Chaste Tree is a brightly colored dwarf chaste tree (Vitex) that can beautify any landscape and performs best in hot, dry regions. Chaste trees are known for their long, cone-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Blue Diddley adds abundant bluish-lavender color to some of the sunniest and hottest areas of a yard in zones 5 through 9. Planting several of the shrubs together can form a hedge or border for the landscape that doubles as a butterfly magnet.
The dwarf growth of Blue Diddley Chaste Tree means it reaches no taller than 6 feet, a nice height for screens and hedges. The plant makes a statement all alone in a xeric garden, too, adding medium height and consistent summer color. Blue Diddley will spread to nearly as wide as tall (6 feet) with an upright, bushy shape. Pollinators love the flowers, and gardeners can cut flower branches for cut flower arrangements. Deer tend to ignore Vitex.
Blue Diddley Chaste Tree Care
Place Blue Diddley Chaste Tree in full sun and soil that drains well. It needs a little extra water in its first year. After that, it can get by with occasional watering and rainfall. Blue Diddly needs pruning only in spring, removing any limbs damaged during winter or showing no signs of new growth. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, can promote more summer blooms. You can fertilize your Vitex in spring if you like.
Blue Diddley Chaste Tree Spacing
Blue Diddley Chaste Tree is a great plant to place near a sidewalk or driveway. For a pretty bluish-purple hedge, plant Blue Diddley shrubs about 5 to 7 feet apart from one center to another.
Blue Diddley® Chaste Tree Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-6 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-6 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Blue
- Flower Description
- Blue
- Bloom Time
- Summer
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Interest, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Blue Diddley®, Chaste Tree
- Also Known As
- Vitex, Chastetree, Chasteberry, Abraham's Balm, Lilac Chastetree, Monk's Pepper
- Botanical Name
- Vitex agnus-castus 'SMVACBD' USPP 26,614
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Deciduous
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
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