💜 Arabian Lilac (Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’) – A Purple-Foliage Showstopper! 🌿🌸

Transform your garden with the Arabian Lilac (Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’)—a stunning, fast-growing shrub or small tree with velvety purple-backed leaves and lavender blooms that appear nearly year-round. This remarkable ornamental not only attracts butterflies, bees, and pollinators, but also provides unique color and texture to your landscape that few other plants can match.

🌿 Quick Facts

• Botanical Name: Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’
• Common Names: Arabian Lilac, Blue Vitex, Fascination
• Plant Type: Evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub / small tree
• Sale Size: Shipped in a 1-gallon container
• Mature Height & Width: 10–15 ft tall x 10–15 ft wide
• USDA Zones: 9–11 (root hardy to ~20°F)
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Cold Hardiness: Evergreen to 28°F, stem-hardy to 25°F, root-hardy to 20°F
• Growth Habit: Upright, rounded, vigorous, multi-stemmed
• Soil Needs: Adaptable (sand, clay, loam, rocky), requires well-draining soil
• Watering: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
• Fragrance: Leaves release a peppery scent when crushed

🌸 What Makes Arabian Lilac Special?

• Distinctive Foliage: Gray-green leaves with velvety purple undersides, adding bold contrast and year-round interest.
• Long Blooming: Produces delicate lavender flower panicles up to 10" long from summer through fall (and even into winter in warm zones).
• Pollinator Magnet: Beloved by butterflies, honeybees, and beneficial insects.
• Fast Growth: Quickly fills space as a hedge, privacy screen, or small ornamental tree.
• Hardy & Resilient: Tolerates wind, coastal conditions, and heat, making it a strong performer in challenging environments.

🌱 Best Uses in the Landscape

• 🌳 Small Tree: Train as a single or multi-stem specimen for striking impact.
• 🌿 Hedge/Screen: Plant in rows for a lush privacy hedge with year-round appeal.
• 🪴 Container Plant: Thrives in large decorative pots on patios and decks.
• 🦋 Wildlife Garden: Draws pollinators and adds ecological value to your landscape.

🛠 Planting & Care

1. Where to Plant: Choose full sun to part shade in a well-draining site.
2. Watering: Water regularly until established, then reduce—drought tolerant along coasts, may need more inland.
3. Pruning: Trim lightly after flowering to maintain size and encourage flushes of new growth.
4. Cold Protection: In zone 9, plants may go deciduous after frost but bounce back quickly in spring.
5. Mulching: Apply hardwood mulch to conserve moisture and protect roots.

⚠️ Cautions

• Listed as “may be poisonous” if ingested; best not for households with plant-chewing pets.
• Not grown for edible use—strictly ornamental and ecological.

🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?

✅ Ideal For:

• Gardeners seeking a fast-growing, colorful hedge or specimen tree
• Pollinator and butterfly gardens
• Coastal and windy sites where other ornamentals struggle
• Landscapers looking for a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant showpiece

❌ Not Ideal For:

• Gardeners in climates colder than zone 9
• Households where pets chew on ornamental plants

📦 Shipping Note

This Arabian Lilac is shipped in a 1-gallon container. UPS Ground shipping works best to Florida, the Southeastern US & Texas. While hardier than smaller starter sizes, please note that shipping stress is possible during periods of extreme heat or cold.

💜 Add bold beauty and pollinator magic to your garden with the Arabian Lilac (Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’).

Order your 1-gallon size today for faster establishment and stunning year-round color! 🌿✨

📍 Local Pickup

Available at our GreenDreams nursery:

18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

Open Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | Sat 8AM–3PM 🌿