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Vitex tree: planting guide for Central Texas

Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus), or chaste tree, is a fast-growing small tree or large shrub with spikes of lavender-blue summer flowers.

Sun
Full sun
Water
Low once established
Soil
Well-drained; tolerates alkaline soil

Growing notes

Vitex is widely planted in Texas for its heat tolerance and pollinator-friendly blooms. It can reseed readily, so check your local guidance before planting near natural areas.

Preparing the bed for vitex

Central Texas ground is often heavy clay or thin soil over limestone. Dig a wide, shallow hole and backfill mostly with the native soil; blend in topsoil if the ground is thin or rocky. Top the finished bed with 2–3 inches of mulch, kept a few inches off the stems, to hold moisture through summer.

Materials we deliver for this project

We don't sell plants. Get the bulk materials delivered by the ton across Austin and Central Texas.

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