Blue and gold
I've been enjoying these shrubs when I look out the kitchen window lately.
The blue flowers are on a chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), which is actually a bush here. The branches die back in the winter, and it comes back from the roots. It obviously tolerates poor, dry soil, and the only maintenance it needs besides a little water is cutting off the dead branches in early spring. Bees and butterflies like it. I don't see them in local nurseries; I bought mine by mail order from Forest Farm Nursery in Oregon many years ago.
The shrub with the yellow flowers behind it, of course, is rabbitbrush. Don't call it sagebrush!
The blue flowers are on a chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), which is actually a bush here. The branches die back in the winter, and it comes back from the roots. It obviously tolerates poor, dry soil, and the only maintenance it needs besides a little water is cutting off the dead branches in early spring. Bees and butterflies like it. I don't see them in local nurseries; I bought mine by mail order from Forest Farm Nursery in Oregon many years ago.
The shrub with the yellow flowers behind it, of course, is rabbitbrush. Don't call it sagebrush!
Believe it or not, Vitex is in about every nursery down here in the Las Vegas area! I have a Vitex in my front yard and just love it. (Bees and butterflies love mine, too.) And what is really funny, if you read about Vitex, the documentation shows that bees and butterflies are not attracted to it. HMPH! Tell them to come visit our gardens!
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I'm assuming it doesn't die back there, so I bet it gets really big. I'm a little jealous!
Thanks for commenting. Your website looks really interesting. I've been thinking about trying some kind of greenhouse, so I'll be back to see if I can learn more.
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It loses it's leaves, but no dieback. I've seen some that are eight feet tall and just gorgeous when they are in bloom!
If you every have greenhouse questions - let me know!
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I have a baby Vitex that I just planted, which I grew from seed this year. I can hardly wait to have it bloom so that I can enjoy the wonderful color. Love your rabbitbrush, and it and vitex look wonderful together.
FlowerLady
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I'm impressed--I can't even imagine planting one from seed! Thanks for your comment.
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