Milan Havlis - gardening

Esk Sunset is an extraordinary but at the same time elegant sycamore maple. It is a real chameleon changing a range of colour shades during a short period of time. Its deciduous leaves emerge orange-green to yellow-green in spring, quickly change to creamy-beige marbled dark green, and in summer they turn creamy-white with green speckles and several depths of pink splash. The reverse is crimson red as well as the stalks. It grows much more slowly as opposed to its parent and forms a dense habit either as a small tree or a medium-sized shrub with a central leader. It wi ...entire article

Rhapsody in Pink is another crape myrtle novelty bred and introduced by Dr.Carl Whitcomb. It was first introduced in 2006 and has been a sought after crape myrtle since. It bears rich panicles of pure pink flowers on the background of burgundy red foliage. The inflorescence keeps on producing new flower buds until the first frosts. It starts flowering earlier than many other varieties so already in early August you can see flower buds opening. This variety bears sterile flowers so new buds will be formed on stalks of just finished flowers. Leaves of lagerstroemias are d ...entire article

Starking-Dwarf is a dwarf version of a popular apple variety Starking. The fruit has red-flushed or pure red skin. It is sweet and aromatic. It ripens in October and matures stored in December. It can be stored by March. Pruning is not needed in dwarf trees. Starking is a self-sterile variety which needs a pollinator for heavy crop. The following varieties are suitable: Falstaff, Gala, Golden Delicious, Golden Reinette, Granny Smith, James Grieve, Jonathan, Otava, Pinova, Rubinola, and the best ones are Spartan and Spencer. Last update 27-08-2010 ...entire article

Hedelfingen is a very good variety of sweet cherry. It bears medium-sized fruit in early summer. Fruit is sweet and crunchy and partly resistant to cracking. It gains its colour about a week before it is truly mature. It needs protection from cherry-worms. It is not self-fertile and needs a pollinator for heavy crop. The tree grows moderately making a dense, wide crown with age. It likes slightly acidic, moist soil. Fully hardy. Last update 27-08-2010 ...entire article

Moreau is a dark-skinned variety of sweet cherry which has been popular with growers for many decades. It bears sweet and aromatic fruit in early July. It is medium resistant to cracking and cherry diseases. It needs protection from cherry-worms. It is not self-fertile and needs a pollinator – another cherry tree flowering at the same time for heavy crop. Unsuitable variety for pollination is Burlat whose pollen is incompatible with Moreau. The tree grows vigorously making a large tree with age if left unpruned. It likes slightly acidic, moist soil. Fully hardy. ...entire article

Tarantella is a novelty from Holland from 2008. It is a trumpet creeper hybrid with large, red flowers very similar to Madame Galen variety, perhaps a slightly deeper red. The difference between these two varieties is that Tarantella makes shorter and stronger new shoots which determines it to be best grown as a shrub or grafted on a stem like a small tree flowering from early July until last warm and sunny days of autumn. Its deciduous leaves are pinnate, deep green and very attractive. Originally a vine, this form was trained into a small tree. Pruning is a crucial is ...entire article

Blue-flowering hibiscus varieties are very popular in gardens. Marina is one of them. It bears medium-large mauve flowers with deep burgundy red centres that have conspicuous veins along the flower tepals. Stigmas are creamy white which makes an adorable contrast with the flower colour. Marina is ideal for combinations with yellow-flowering lower shrubs. It has very decorative leaves that are unique. They are medium large, 7-8 cm long, narrowly palmate, 3-lobed with one lobe deeply cut, mid to dark green and coarsely toothed. If they turn yellow in summer the plant mani ...entire article

Ardens is one of the older varieties with beautiful, mauve, double, open flowers. It tends to get harder and harder to get now that new varieties come every year. This one, however, proved to be a winner, blooming profusely and reliably every year, forming a dense shrub. It has very decorative leaves that are unique. They are narrowly palmate, 3-lobed, mid to dark green and coarsely toothed. If they turn yellow in summer the plant manifests too much water at the roots. They are either over-watered or planted in too heavy, water-logged soil that might cause serious problems. Hi ...entire article

Duc de Brabant is a popular variety or Rose-of-Sharon with fully double flowers. They are medium sized, 5-6 cm across, purple red and come out in from mid July until last warm and sunny days of early autumn. It has very decorative leaves that are unique. They are narrowly palmate, 3-lobed, mid to dark green and coarsely toothed. If they turn yellow in summer the plant manifests too much water at the roots. They are either over-watered or planted in too heavy, water-logged soil that might cause serious problems. Hibiscus is a typical example of a plant where the borderli ...entire article

Vanille Fraise® is a breathtaking novelty among panicle hydrangeas. It bears extra large flowers that emerge clear white in midsummer, turning light pink first and deep raspberry pink in late summer. The panicles are up to 30 cm long and 20 cm wide and remain on the plant for a long period of time. Deciduous leaves are ovate to oval, pointed, deep green. Stems are strong, deep burgundy red. We recommend regular pruning every spring before the buds begin to swell. By cutting at least two thirds of previous year’s growth you will get a strong shrub with large f ...entire article

Pink Velour® is a very attractive crape myrtle with upright panicles of pink-red to purple red flowers with crepe margins and rich yellow stamens in the centre. It starts flowering earlier than the species which makes it suitable for colder regions where the summer begins a little later. The inflorescence keeps on producing new flowers buds until the first frosts. Another important feature is foliage. The deciduous leaves of Pink Velour® are leathery, oval, and deep burgundy red for many weeks after they emerge, only then turning deep green leaving a burgundy red m ...entire article

Indian Summer is another gorgeous variety of trumpet creeper which was trained into a small tree. It is a brilliant idea because such form does not need a trellis or a wall, it can stand anywhere in the garden, on its own or in the middle of other, smaller shrubs. The trumpet-shaped flowers are pure orange, 7 cm long, 5cm wide. The buds form a raceme that blooms from July till frosts. Attractive leaves are pinnate, dark green and slightly glossy. They create a green mass as a luxurious background for the flowers. New branches are shorter on tree forms than on vines but we ...entire article

Even among a hundred trees you will notice this one first. Such a colourful small tree must have been brought direct from Mars! Moreover, it is so unique and special that the botanists cannot decide whether to list as acer conspicuum or acer rubescens. Red Flamingo is a stunning variety of snakebark maple making a breathtaking display wherever you put it. The most attractive feature are its colours. Mid-green leaves are marbled white as if you splashed the tree with a can of white paint and then threw a pink chiffon all over the plant. The young and fully insolate leave ...entire article

Astilbe is a popular, low-maintenance perennial with charming, plume-like flowers in summer. The offer several colours – creamy white, pink or red. Leaves are dark green and glossy forming a dense clump. Grow astilbe in humus-rich soil. If planted in boggy or regularly watered bed they can sit in full sun, too, otherwise choose a semi-shaded or shaded location. They are water loving plants and require a good dose of nutrients to look their best. They will not grow in chalky or clay soil that dries out in summer. For best results divide the clumps every 3-4 years removing ol ...entire article