{"product_id":"vitex-agnus-castus-blue-diddley","title":"Vitex agnus-castus 'Blue Diddley'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eVitex agnus-castus 'Blue Diddley'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a compact, dwarf form of the much-loved \u003cstrong\u003echaste tree\u003c\/strong\u003e, bred to bring all the Mediterranean charm of the species to smaller gardens, borders and containers. Where the ordinary \u003cstrong\u003eVitex agnus-castus\u003c\/strong\u003e can reach 2.5m, 'Blue Diddley' settles at a neat 1 to 1.5m, making it one of the most manageable and free-flowering choices for a sunny, exotic-style planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom late summer into autumn it is topped with slender, upright spikes of fragrant, blue-violet flowers that bees and butterflies adore, held above deeply divided, aromatic grey-green foliage that releases a warm, peppery scent when brushed. It is a genuine pollinator magnet and a wonderful way to extend colour in the garden long after many summer shrubs have finished. Plant it near a path or seating area where the scented leaves and buzzing visitors can be enjoyed up close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, ideally south or west facing, with shelter from cold, drying winds. Maximum heat and light give the best flowering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any free-draining soil, from chalk to sand and across the full pH range. Sharp drainage matters most, as winter wet is the main risk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a dwarf, compact form reaching around 1 to 1.5m in height and spread, roughly half the size of the species.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e hardy in milder parts of the UK (RHS H4, to around -10C). In colder gardens grow it against a warm wall and mulch the base in autumn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a deciduous shrub that flowers on the current season's growth, 'Blue Diddley' responds beautifully to a hard prune in early spring, quickly throwing up vigorous new stems tipped with flower. Water through the first summer to establish, after which it is happily drought-tolerant, thriving on the kind of hot, dry, free-draining spot that suits our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e. Its compact habit makes it ideal for a large pot on a sunny patio, alongside the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it to add late-season structure and scent to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, or as a standout in a wildlife planting with our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits perfectly within the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range, bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to a British summer. For a guide to how these plants perform through the seasons, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics: what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e page.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery 'Blue Diddley' we supply is nursery-grown, chosen for a healthy, well-branched framework and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in top condition ready to plant.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":58063994880383,"sku":"VITEAGNUCASTBLUE19","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/vitex_59fd7035-6e9b-45ad-99cb-bd7a08d5e65f.jpg?v=1785185273","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/vitex-agnus-castus-blue-diddley","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}