Vacate Vitex Project
Beach Vitex is an invasive low-growing, shoreline shrub that is known to cause extensive and long term damage to dunes in North Carolina. Coastal Transplants has partnered with local beach community municipalities and Tarheel Landscaping Co of Holly Ridge in a campaign to help eradicate Vitex. It is time to vacate vitex for good!
Why does Vitex have to go?
SPREADS
RAPIDLY
Beach Vitex thrives in our North Carolina environment and grows rapidly allowing it to spread across dunes quickly and easily.
CHOKES OUT OTHER PLANTS
Beach Vitex quickly dominates the dunes with its nodal rooting that produces dense mats spreading more than 10 yards.
STERILIZES
DUNES
Studies have shown that Beach Vitex, even after removed, creates a water repellent surface, essentially sterilizing the dune from being able to grow other plants.
HINDERS
SEA TURTLES
Beach Vitex may also create a physical barrier that hinder sea turtles from reaching an acceptable nesting place and prevent baby turtles from reaching the ocean.
How do we stop it?
As industry experts in coastal vegetation, Coastal Transplants is well trained on the scientifically researched treatment plan for eradicating Vitex. It is a multi-step process that occurs over a year span combining both chemical and mechanical control methods. We have paired with Tar Heel Landscaping Co of Holly Ridge and local municipalities like Surf City, to devise a plan to treat the North Carolina coast effectively, through a Vacate Vitex Cost Share Program, but we will need full community support in order to completely eradicate Vitex from our coastline. The average cost to treat Vitex is $1,100 per lot, but with our Vacate Vitex Project with Surf City, we are able to treat the invasive species at no cost to residents. Each resident that wishes to participate in the program just needs to fill out a waiver giving Coastal Transplants to treat your dunes in November of 2023.
WAIVERS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MAY OF 2023!
