It’s summer. It’s Georgia. Of course, it’s going to be hot but, man, the 90s are hard.
While speaking encouraging words to the drooping hydrangea you can’t help but appreciate those plants that seem to shake off the heat. When even the lantana was gasping a little this week the chaste tree outside our dinning room window was and is blooming like crazy.
Vitex, for those who appreciate Latin, is more of a shrub than tree, but here in our slice of Georgia and South Carolina they can grow quite tall and can trimmed up to resemble more of a tree than bush.
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It’s a great plant and don’t let folks give it the side eye look. The leaves may resemble a popular green plant legal in some states but not in Georgia or South Carolina, but the Chaste tree isn’t grown for the leaves as much as for the beautiful blue flowers it produces in the summer.
It’s a great plant and if you don’t have one consider making room for it in a sunny spot. The bees adore it, and it has a fairly long bloom period. It loses its leaves in the winter and spring bulbs can be planted under it. If it gets too big for the space allotted, it doesn’t mind trimming or even being cut to the ground. It blooms on new growth.
Propagating a Chase tree is supposed to be possible by taking soft wood cuttings. I’m going to give it a try and will report back.
Remember that part about bees loving the flowers? Probably shouldn’t plant near an often-used door. Learn from other gardeners’ mistakes.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.Â
