Vitex 'Chicagoland Blues' is a compact and cold hardy cultivar of Chaste Tree that features aromatic gray green foliage and spikes of rich violet blue flowers that attract pollinators throughout summer. Its shrubby form remains well behaved in northern climates and is ideal for low maintenance borders, pollinator gardens, or as a small specimen tree with tropical flair.
Height & Spread: 48 - 72 in x 48 - 72 in
Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained soils, tolerates poor fertility
Watering Needs: Low to moderate once established
Deer Resistance: Generally deer resistant due to aromatic foliage
Native Status
Originally native to southern Europe and western Asia, this cultivar is adapted for colder USDA zones and is not considered invasive in northern gardens.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Highly attractive to honeybees, bumblebees, and native sweat bees with its extended midsummer bloom period.
Butterflies
- Provides abundant nectar for swallowtails, painted ladies, and hairstreaks during peak butterfly season.
Beneficial Insects
- Supports predatory wasps and hoverflies that help control aphid and caterpillar populations.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 60 - 72 in apart to allow full shrub development and airflow between plants.
Landscape Placement:
- Excellent as a summer focal point in butterfly gardens, mixed shrub borders, or dry foundation plantings.
Companion Plants
- Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) - Tall airy lavender blue flowers echo the hues of Vitex and thrive in similarly dry soils.
- Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop) - Fragrant foliage and purple flower spikes draw hummingbirds and bees throughout summer.
- Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' - Golden yellow daisies contrast with the violet spires and bloom over an extended period.
- Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' - Upright pink purple blooms match Vitex’s stature and support pollinator activity.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - Deep indigo spires add vertical texture and attract beneficial insects in overlapping bloom cycles.