Plant Min Zone: 5a
Plant Max Zone: 9b
Sunlight: All Day Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun
Water / Rainfall: Very Low, Low, Average
Soil Quality: Poor, Average
Bloom Season: Summer, Late Summer
Flower Color: Lavender
Berry / Fruit Color: Green, Brown-Beige
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green, Yellowish Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: Some
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Medium
Humidity Tolerance: Medium, High
Wind Tolerance: High
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils, Sandy Soils, Rocky Soils, Alkaline Soils (high PH)
Height: 4' - 6'
Width: 4' - 6'
Growth Rate: Fast
Service Life: Extremely long: over 20 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Shrub Normally Winter-kills so trim to 6-12" off Ground in Winter or Early Spring: Blooms on New Wood.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5, Medium Grouping of 5-10
Best Side of House: South Exposure, West Exposure, East Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Survives Severe Drought, Tolerates Extreme Heat, Top of Retaining Wall Locations, Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Long Blooming Season, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: None
Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Needs Thick Winter Mulch, Late to Emerge or Leaf Out in Spring
Description from plant breeder, Plant Nouveau: "This new hybrid vitex breaks all of the rules! Selected from a batch of vitex crosses made by former V.P. of Horticulture, Kris Jarantoski of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Summertime Blues has a rounded habit with exceptionally large individual flowers held on black stems. Just imagine a vitex with improved hardiness, that flowers most of the summer and can be used as a shrub…and you have Summertime Blues! Undisputedly an improved selection, Summertime Blues offers multi-season interest for gardens from California to Chicago and even in the deep south. Extreme drought tolerance, a more manageable size, and sterile flowers make the perfect combination for this work horse, easy-to-care-for shrub. Note: This plant has produced no viable seed for the past 15 years and therefore should not have the invasive tendencies of Vitex rotundifolia, which is one of its parents." Vitex agnus castus x rotundifolia ‘Helen Froehlich’ PP31660, Summertime Blues™ is quite a mouthful to say but well worth it in the landscape. We are testing the claims that it may be winter hardy as a shrub with less die back in our Lawrence, KS zone 6a display garden. This is the first year of texting...2024! We will keep you posted.