Striking trees with spiky blossoms could be Vitex

Q: I’ve been admiring a couple of tree varieties planted on city property this spring. One is a tree planted in the center median along Academy, between Wyoming and San Mateo. It has dark green foliage interspersed with leaf clumps colored a brilliant chartreuse. It’s very striking in its two-toned colors. The others are small trees in the courtyard of the Lomas Tramway Library. These trees have bright blue spiky blossoms. Will you find out what these striking trees are for me? — C.G., Albuquerque

A: You have certainly piqued my curiosity!

I haven’t made room in the budget to seek these trees out yet, but will. Especially the first described tree!

The second bunch of trees, from the description and seeing what’s blooming in my travels, I think I know because it’s one of my favorites and in bloom now. Also, I think it’s the shape of the bloom cluster that is “spiky,” not the flowers themselves.

If it’s what I think it is, the “library small trees” are more than likely chaste trees or Vitex. I have always called them Vitex and they are one of my all-time favorite early summer blooming trees.

They have a peculiarity about them, which is that if they are planted in rich, moist soil, they grow thickly, yet the blooms tend to be a n the pale side. Now a Vitex planted in typically harsh New Mexico soil with only a modicum of soil amendment, they perform marvelously. No, they aren’t a plant-it-and-forget-tree, as they will always want to be cared for, just not fussed over and spoiled.

The foliage is usually a dark green-gray color on their top side and a cooler straight gray underneath. In the breeze, they look like they shimmer to me. But it’s the blooms that are so eye-appealing. Covering the trees on the outer edges are longish 6-to 8-inch stiff spikes of color!

As the Vitex has come into favor, there are several color choices to pick from. You can find Vitex sporting bright white bloom spikes and another variety that has pink blooms. But it’s the purple that will get you. I have a couple in my neighborhood that are the most magnificent electric, vibrant purple you’ve ever seen! To me, they glow! I watch others that are wearing pale lavender colored spikes and several more that have a good blue-purple color. On the northeast corner of Osuna and Jefferson, there used to be a nice planting of Vitex to cheer my eyes!

I’ll check the library and cruise up Academy to get to the bottom of what trees you are seeing.

Meanwhile, Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.