Vitex, Agnus Castus, Chaste Tree, Lilac Chastetree, Monk's Pepper 'Montrose Purple'

Mine's not growing. I planted it in full sun, and well draining soil. I've started to water it more thinking it might get a flush of gr...Read Moreowth this season. Since I planted it 2 years ago it hasn't grown much at all. Any ideas?

Thanks

This is such a great tree for the mid-south. I don't know why it's not planted more. It's hardy, tolerates Summer drought and never fails...Read More to bloom. In July (usually right along with Crepe Myrtles) the tree is smothered with lavender colored spikes that bees, butterflies and birds go crazy for. It can be pruned hard (for shrub shape), lightly (for tree shape) or just left alone to form multiple trunks. It drops its leaves cleanly in the Fall and there are no fruit droppings or unwanted seedlings to speak of. There is one humorous caveat. The leaves closely resemble those of a certain illegal crop grown for its hallucinogenic properties. Each Spring the tree gets some curious looks from passersby.

Saw this in local nursery, but with no plant tag. "What is it?" says I. "Snow Bush," he replied. Hah! After searching, found this lovely ...Read Moreleaves-of-green-on-top/soft, powdery-purple-underneath with racemes of tiny purple blobs that turn into flowers is a Vitex agnus-castus. Gorgeous. Planted on North side of house, in Orange County (near LA) CA--it gets hot morning sun, shade after Noon. We have sandy soil. So far, growing like crazy! Zone 9b. I water on the light side, it seems to like that. Long, graceful stems cover the water faucet and pipes, so it's doing its job. Now if I could only find some more--MUCH better than Butterfly Bush because less mess and no need to chop it down in winter; neater than Honeysuckle.

I love these, since everyone has crape myrtles (and I dont' like the way you have to cut them back to stumps in the winter) I wanted some...Read Morething a little different and they are wonderful. They grow quickly and can be trained into a bush/hedge or a "tree" w/ several trunks very similar to a crape myrtle only you don't have to cut it back to nothing in the winter...the blooms are similar to butterfly bushes only you don't have to deadhead constantly to keep them looking good, the blooms last longer and the spent flowers don't take over. You can just put it in the ground w/ fertilize and water (and can let it go) I even put some in some very poor rocky soil at my father's house (and I know he didn't water them more than 2 or 3 times and they look amazing. Just give them enough room to fill out and you won't be disappointed.