Shoal Creek Chaste Tree
Vitex agnus-castus 'Shoal Creek'
Lavender-Blue Chaste Tree, Nursery-Grown and Ready to Plant
- Fast-growing deciduous shrub reaches 10-15 feet tall in 3-5 years with reliable lavender-blue flowers May through September
- Adapts to poor, rocky, well-drained soils; thrives in full sun with low to moderate water once established
- Deer resistant and pollinator-friendly; suitable for mixed borders, screens, specimen plantings, and xeriscape gardens
About this plant
The Shoal Creek Chaste Tree is a deciduous large shrub or small ornamental tree prized for its abundant lavender-blue to violet-blue flower panicles that bloom from late spring through summer. Its fast growth, low water needs once established, and high deer resistance make it ideal for mixed borders, specimen plantings, pollinator gardens, and xeriscape landscapes where reliable summer color is valued.
Your Shoal Creek Chaste Tree arrives as a nursery-grown plant in its container, ready to transplant into prepared garden soil with good drainage. Plant on arrival or within a few days, water thoroughly to settle the soil, and keep consistently moist for the first week as the roots establish in their new location.
Shoal Creek Chaste Tree at a glance
| Botanical name | Vitex agnus-castus 'Shoal Creek' |
|---|---|
| Plant type | deciduous large shrub / small ornamental tree |
| USDA zones | 6-9 (root-hardy into zone 5 in some reports, dying back to the ground and resprouting) |
| Mature height | 10-15 ft (occasionally to 20 ft in ideal conditions/warmer zones) |
| Mature width | 10-15 ft, often as wide as tall |
| Sun | full sun (6+ hours); flowering and form decline noticeably in part shade |
| Water | low to moderate once established; regular water while young |
| Bloom time | late spring into summer, typically May-September, with rebloom flushes if spent panicles are deadheaded |
| Bloom color | lavender-blue to violet-blue; 'Shoal Creek' is noted for larger flower panicles than the species |
| Growth rate | fast, roughly 2-3 ft per year until mature size is reached |
| Deer resistance | high, generally considered deer resistant due to aromatic foliage |
| Best planting time | spring or fall, spring preferred in colder parts of its range so roots establish before winter |
Container sizes explained
| Quart / QT | A 4 inch pot, roughly one quart of soil. A young starter plant, the most economical way to buy several. |
|---|---|
| #1 / 1 Gallon | A trade one gallon pot (about 6.5 inches). One to two seasons older than a quart, with an established root system. |
| #2 / 2 Gallon | A trade two gallon pot. Common for peonies and perennials that need root room; usually blooms the first or second year. |
| #3 / 3 Gallon | A trade three gallon pot (about 10 inches). A well-developed shrub or small tree, often 2 to 4 feet tall on arrival. |
| Sprinter pot / 8 inch pot | Deep, narrow pots used for grafted maples and long-rooted stock. Height is a better guide than volume for these. |
Questions before you buy
Which size should I choose?
The QT and 1-Gallon sizes are ideal for starting a young plant that will reach its mature size when established in the landscape. The 2 and 3-Gallon containers offer more immediate visual presence and plants that will fill their space quicker. Choose based on your budget and preferred timeline to mature size.
When is the best time to plant my Shoal Creek Chaste Tree?
Plant it in spring, summer, or fall. Container-grown plants can be transplanted during the growing season or in fall, and planting earlier in the season gives roots more time to establish before winter dormancy.
How large does a Shoal Creek Chaste Tree grow?
This cultivar typically reaches 10 to 15 feet tall and equally wide at maturity, occasionally reaching 20 feet in ideal conditions in warmer zones. Growth is fast, roughly 2 to 3 feet per year, so the plant reaches full mature size in about 3 to 5 years.
How much sun does this chaste tree need?
Shoal Creek Chaste Tree thrives in full sun, meaning 6 or more hours of direct sun daily. Flowering and plant form noticeably decline in part shade, so choose a location with abundant sun for the best results.
What climate zones is this chaste tree hardy in?
The Shoal Creek Chaste Tree is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9. It is also root-hardy into zone 5 in some reports, where it may die back to the ground in winter and regrow from the roots in spring.
What should I do in the first year after planting?
Water regularly while the plant is young to encourage root establishment, then transition to low or moderate watering once it is established. Provide full sun and well-drained soil. Deadheading spent flower panicles can encourage rebloom flushes throughout the summer.