Vitex

A large shrub or small ornamental tree that grows up to 15 feet tall. It often develops multiple twisted trunks and a spreading, airy canopy. Commonly planted in Texas for its bold flowers and drought tolerance.

Native to Europe and Asia, Vitex prefers well-drained soils and struggles in wet conditions. It tolerates heat and alkaline soils, making it well-suited to Texas landscapes.

Leaves are compound and opposite, with 5 to 7 leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. Each leaflet is 1 to 3 inches long, with a blue-green color and short stalks.

Produces dense spikes of white or lavender flowers 6 inches long during late spring and summer. The blooms rise above the foliage and attract pollinators.

Fruits start as fleshy, turning brown to black and drying into short clusters. These often persist through winter and add texture to the dormant plant.

Bark is smooth and gray, aging into a pattern of irregular blocks. While the wood has no commercial use, the plant has medicinal history and is popular in nurseries.

Japanese maple may resemble Vitex in form, but it has simple, serrated leaves and belongs to a different plant family entirely.