Overview

Vitex 'Daniel Searle' is a plant with a bushy habit in the genus Vitex, part of the Lamiaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Vitex 'Daniel Searle' grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden and mediterranean climate plants.

About

Vitex 'Daniel Searle' is a deciduous, well-branched shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that produces prominent summer flower spikes. It flowers from July to September. It prefers a sunny, sheltered position in well‑drained chalk, loam or sand and is hardy to H4.

About the genus

Vitex is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae containing about 210 species. Common names include chaste tree or chastetree, traditionally referring to V. agnus-castus, but often applied to other species, as well, and pūriri for the New Zealand species V.

Wikipedia contributors, "Vitex", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Vitex

In the garden

Vitex 'Daniel Searle' is a member of the Lamiaceae and presents as a multi-stemmed, well-branched shrub with a clear late-summer flowering season. Flower spikes appear reliably from July to September, giving the plant a distinct presence at the end of the season. Position it in full sun on a south- or west-facing aspect where soils are free-draining; chalk, loam and sand are all suitable. Soil pH is flexible and accepts acid, neutral or alkaline conditions, but avoid persistent waterlogging. The cultivar prefers a sheltered site rather than an exposed ridge or coastal location. In the UK hardiness rating H4 corresponds to average garden hardiness, so select a warm, protected microclimate in colder districts. Scale and suggested uses suit built-environment plantings and relaxed borders alike: it works in city and courtyard gardens, cottage or informal layouts, and Mediterranean-inspired schemes. Sit it where late-summer flowering will be visible from patios or windows, and allow its branching silhouette to remain part of the composition. Flowering from July to September is the defining seasonal feature to plan around.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Vitex

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H4

Plant details

Vitex 'Daniel Searle' size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Vitex 'Daniel Searle'

Propagation

Seed sown in autumn or spring, Semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to honey fungus

Frequently asked questions