Vitex agnus-castus First Editions® Queen Bee® ('Bailtexthree' PP35259)
Overview
Uses: Specimen, hedges, borders, pollinator gardens, mass plantings.
Benefits: Vibrant lavender flower spikes bloom from mid-June and rebloom throughout summer, providing continuous color and pollinator value during the hottest months. Aromatic, palmate gray-green foliage adds fine texture and a sage-like fragrance to the landscape. Exceptional drought, heat, and salt tolerance for challenging garden sites.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Broad-spreading — wide, mounding form with arching branches.
Bloom Color: Lavender
Foliage Color: Gray-Green
Mature Height: 5–6 feet
Mature Width: 7–9 feet
Bloom Season: Summer
Growth Rate: Fast
Summary
Queen Bee® Chastetree fills the midsummer garden with waves of fragrant lavender flower spikes at a time when most spring-blooming shrubs have long finished their show. The flower panicles bloom from mid-June and continue to rebloom through summer as spent spikes are replaced by new growth, providing months of continuous color that butterflies, bees, and other pollinators eagerly seek out.
The aromatic, palmately compound foliage is gray-green with a sage-like scent, adding fine texture and a Mediterranean quality to the planting. The wide, rounded habit matures at 5 to 6 feet tall and 7 to 9 feet across, making Queen Bee® an effective flowering hedge, colorful screen, or dramatic specimen where space allows.
Part of the First Editions® collection from Bailey Nurseries, Queen Bee® was selected for improved flower power, cold tolerance, and drought resilience compared to standard chastetree varieties. It handles heat, poor soil, and dry conditions that would stress less adapted shrubs. In zone 6, it may die back to the ground in harsh winters but rebounds quickly from the roots, blooming on new wood that same season.
Care
Queen Bee® Chastetree Care
Plant Queen Bee® in full sun for the best flowering and strongest form. This shrub thrives in heat and requires at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. It adapts to a wide range of well-drained soils and is not particular about soil type or pH. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites.
Water regularly during establishment. Once established, Queen Bee® is highly drought tolerant and performs well with minimal supplemental irrigation. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow release fertilizer to support vigorous growth and abundant flowering.
Prune hard in early spring before new growth emerges. In zones 6–7, the plant may die back to the ground over winter and should be cut to 6 to 12 inches in early spring. It recovers rapidly and blooms on new wood. Removing spent flower spikes during the season encourages additional flushes of bloom approximately every six weeks.
Size
What Size is the Queen Bee® Chastetree for Sale Online?
Our Queen Bee® Chastetree ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Queen Bee® Chastetree Grow?
Queen Bee® reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and 7 to 9 feet wide at maturity in warmer zones. In zone 6 where it may die back over winter, expect a smaller size of 3 to 5 feet in its first seasons as it regrows from the base each spring.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
This plant is commonly known as Chastetree, Chaste Tree, Vitex, Lilac Chastetree, and Monk’s Pepper.
Will Queen Bee® survive in zone 6?
Queen Bee® is rated for zones 6 through 9. In zone 6, it may die back to the ground in cold winters but regrows vigorously from the roots in spring. Since it blooms on new wood, dieback does not prevent flowering. Treat it as a woody perennial in colder areas and cut back in early spring.
Is Queen Bee® Chastetree deer resistant?
Yes. The aromatic foliage and flowers are unpalatable to deer, making Queen Bee® a reliable choice for gardens with browsing pressure. Browse our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens collection for more options.
What pollinators does Queen Bee® attract?
The fragrant lavender flower spikes are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Chastetree is one of the best midsummer nectar sources available and produces excellent quality honey when visited by bees. Explore more pollinator-friendly options in our Shrubs & Bushes collection.
