The North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association (NCNLA) and North Carolina Cooperative Extension are pleased to announce our sixth year of Showstopper Plants.
Nominated by North Carolina nurserymen and selected by North Carolina Cooperative Extension horticulture experts, the 2013 Showstopper Plants are must have plants for any North Carolina landscaping. These featured plants are promising new cultivars or iron-clad plants that will thrive across the region. They are featured in Extension Gardener Learning Centers at home and garden shows throughout North Carolina.
Look for Vitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’ also know as the Chastetree in area North Carolina nurseries.
If you are looking for a plant that doesn’t need any tender loving care, you won’t find a better choice than ‘Shoal Creek’ Chastetree.
Native to southern Europe and western Asia, Chastetree – or Vitex – grows into a multi-trunked large shrub ranging in height from 10 to 15 feet with a broad, spreading growth habit. Unlike the typical species, ‘Shoal Creek’ is an improved cultivar that possesses larger flower spikes of violet-blue flowers. ‘Shoal Creek’ Chastetree thrives in full sunlight and will tolerate most soil conditions as long as the soil is well drained. This plant selection is exceptionally more vigorous in growth than other varieties of Vitex.
Once this shrub becomes established it is very low-maintenance and extremely drought tolerant. In addition to its attractive violet-blue flowers, ‘Shoal Creek’ has interesting star-shaped, aromatic foliage that is grayish green on top with gray underneath. ‘Shoal Creek’ Vitex flowers attract both hummingbirds and butterflies, giving this Showstopper Plant an added bonus.
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Words by: Helen Yoest
Sponsored by the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association