Vitex

Vitex: Mediterranean summer bloomer full of fragrance and colour

Vitex, also known as monk's pepper, is a summer shrub that instantly brings a touch of Mediterranean elegance to the garden. With its lavender-blue flower panicles, fragrant palmate leaves and long flowering period, it is a striking appearance that also attracts bees, bumblebees and butterflies. While many shrubs have reached their peak after June, Vitex is then in full bloom and continues to flower for a while longer. This extends the gardening season with colour and fragrance.

Vitex belongs to the mint family and grows naturally in sunny, warm regions. The shrub forms an airy, branched crown with grey-green leaves that give off a subtle scent when touched. In summer, long, upright panicles appear, full of blue to purple flowers that bloom until late September. 

Vitex from Proven Winners®

Proven Winners® has combined the Mediterranean charm of Vitex with characteristics that are better suited to European gardens. Vitex Blue Diddley® is a compact shrub that grows to a height of only 90 to 120 cm, making it perfect for small gardens or patio pots. The abundance of lavender-blue flowers appears from mid-summer and lasts until autumn. Vitex Rock Steady®, which flowers on new wood, grows slightly more vigorously and displays intense deep blue plumes that flower for about 6 weeks longer than other Vitex varieties. Both varieties are fully hardy and retain their fresh foliage well into autumn.

Location: full sun for rich flowering

Vitex feels most at home in full sun. The more sunlight it gets, the more profusely it flowers. The plant likes well-drained soil, preferably light sandy or loamy. It does not tolerate wet feet very well, so an airy soil structure is important. Due to its high drought tolerance, Vitex continues to perform well even in dry summers.

Maintenance: simple and effective

Vitex flowers on annual wood, which makes pruning easy. Light pruning in early spring stimulates new shoots and therefore richer flowering. Other than that, it is sufficient to remove old or weak branches and add some compost in the spring. Young plants require a little extra water in their first growing season to establish good roots, but once established, Vitex is very drought tolerant.

Vitex in your garden

Vitex is an aromatic, sun-loving shrub that brings warmth and colour to the garden. The Proven Winners® selections Blue Diddley® and Rock Steady® combine Mediterranean elegance with modern reliability: long-lasting flowering, compact growth and excellent drought tolerance. This makes Vitex the ideal choice for anyone looking for a low-maintenance summer bloomer that continues to surprise well into autumn.

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