As we mentioned in a previous post, we present a plant that we found very interesting among the great variety of Nursery species that we were able to enjoy at the Olot Speed Gardening Competition.
This plant is Vitex trifolia purpurea, commonly known as Arabian lilac. This deciduous shrub, with a rounded shape, can become a small tree and is highly valued for the purple color on the underside of its leaves. Native to Australia and Southeast Asia, in full development it reaches up to 2 meters in height and about 2 meters wide.
Flowering begins in mid-summer and lasts until mid-autumn. Its fragrant flowers, which are especially attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, are arranged in bluish-purple clusters. In addition to summer, flowers can also appear at other times of the year when temperatures are high. Following flowering it produces discreet but abundant black berries.
The foliage is very showy and aromatic; when the leaves are crushed they emanate a certain pepper aroma, and their coloration varies during the growth phase. First the leaves sprout with an intense purple color and as they mature, the upper surface turns glaucous green and the underside turns pale lavender. This unique characteristic makes this species a very interesting plant for the garden during practically the entire year.
It likes well-drained soils with a certain degree of moisture. But it is tolerant to moderate drought periods, as well as to a wide range of soil pH, growing correctly in both acidic and alkaline soils.
It is a fast-growing shrub that prefers to be located in full sun, although it tolerates partial shade, but in full sun it will have a more compact shape and its flowering will be more profuse.
It withstands mild frosts and presents no problems until temperatures are below -5ºC. It is an easy-to-grow plant that requires little care, in addition to being resistant to pests and diseases, as well as to beachfront locations.
It has high pruning tolerance, which allows the formation of hedges or even training it as a standard. Flowering occurs on young wood, so it is advisable to prune it in winter or early spring before new shoots emerge.
Due to its characteristics, it is a shrub that can be used in the garden as a specimen, in mass, or for the formation of medium-sized hedges. Due to its hardiness it is suitable both for cultivation in the garden and for planting in locations with less care such as slopes, road medians, or roundabouts.
Another plant of this same genus, native to the Mediterranean area and with other interesting characteristics, that we can find in the Nursery is Vitex agnus-castus.