The Valdosta Tree Commission is offering Chaste trees “to citizens at wholesale prices with the hopes of planting 100 trees in the city limits”, but this may actually be a bad idea, since this species is exotic, does not support local insects and birds, and in Texas has become invasive.

The Tree Commission’s writeup says this tree:

“has no serious pest problems and attract butterflies to the garden.”

That first phrase is a red flag after reading Dr. Douglas Tallamy’s book, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. Local insects mostly cannot eat exotic plants, and local birds eat local insects, so planting exotic trees may look good, but is not helpful to native insects and birds. Yes, Chaste trees may attract some butterflies, but how many, compared to native trees? And “no serious pest problems” means not many native insects munching on the leaves or stems of the tree.

So what to plant instead? See next post.

The City of Valdosta posted PR 3 January 2013, VTC Offers Chaste Trees at Wholesale Prices to Encourage Tree Planting,

The Valdosta Tree Commission is offering Chaste Trees (Shoal Creek) to citizens at wholesale prices with the hopes of planting 100 trees in the city limits. The commission has purchased Chaste Trees, also known by its botanical name Vitex agnus-castus, and is selling the trees to the public at the following wholesale prices: 3-gallon trees cost $10.00 and are 16 to 18 inches tall, and 5-gallon trees cost $14.00 and are 22 to 24 inches tall.

“This time of the year is the best time to plant trees. We hope this tree-selling event encourages citizens to purchase the trees at this excellent price, plant the trees, and be inspired to plant more trees in the future for the beauty and environmental benefits to our community,” said Valdosta Tree Commission Vice Chair Amy Hall.

The commission hopes to make this an annual event and will select a different tree each year. The Gingko biloba tree was offered as last year’s tree and the sale was successful. The Chaste Tree was selected this year as a small accent or specimen tree. A true show stopper, it has beautiful, brilliant violet blue blooms and silvery, lacy foliage along with a sweet fragrant aroma. The Chaste Tree is drought tolerant once established, has no serious pest problems and attracts butterflies to the garden.

Checks made payable to the Valdosta Tree Commission should be mailed by Jan. 20, 2013, to Amy Hall, c/o Valdosta Tree Commission, PO Box 1125, Valdosta, GA 31603. Purchased trees may be picked up at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Horticultural greenhouses, behind Berrien Hall on Friday, Feb. 1, from 3-6 p.m. or on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information, call Hall at (229) 561-5173 or Terrie May at (229)241-7220.

-jsq

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