Milan Havlis - gardening

Ashes are common trees of our climate. But not every one looks as pretty as this manna ash. It comes from South Europe and SW Asia and offers both attractive foliage and flowers. Manna ash is a small to mid-sized tree with a rounded crown that needn’t be pruned to look nice. Its deciduous leaves are pinnate, mid green, 15-30 cm long, turning red and purple-red in autumn. Inflorescence are rich, up to 12 cm long dense panicles composed of small, linear, creamy white flowers that are sweetly scented. They come out from the first hot days of end spring until early summer an ...entire article

Not everyone can afford growing a large tree in his garden but would like to enjoy its foliage. Dwarf varieties are perfect solutions to this problem. And Troll is one of the most recent solutions among them. This German word means hobbit and hobbits, as we know them, are usually small. Troll is a dwarf maidenhair tree which hardly exceeds 1m tall when mature. It is a conifer though its needles are so flat and wide that you just have to call them leaves. They are deciduous, fan-shaped, young leaves are fresh green and turn matt and pale or pea-green in maturity. In autumn ...entire article

Blue Bunny is a nice newcomer among blue hollies from Canada. It is a brother (male variety) of Golden Girl which is a female version with yellow berries. Blue Bunny is a perfect pollinator for all female varieties of blue hollies. Its leaves are dark green and glossy, rather elongated and slightly toothed at margins. Twigs are purple. It grows upright into a narrowly columnar shrub and will fit into a small garden. Meserveae hollies are called “blue hollies” thanks to the shade of the species leave ...entire article

VARIETIES Autumn Bliss is a superb raspberry variety making delicious red fruit. They ripen from August until the first frosts if the plant is cut back in autumn or before spring. Then it makes fruit on current year’s wood. If the old canes are not cut they will set fruit on old canes early in the season – in June and July. You can also have fruit from June until October on well established, strong plants if you cut back half of the old canes leaving other half on. The plant will set fruit on both and new wood then. The fruit is medium-sized to large, sweet ...entire article

Pink Dawn is a name that fits this beauty perfectly. The orchid-like flowers are soft pink as a new dawn promising a lovely day. They have yellow throats with purple-pink veins and frilled margins. They are lightly scented with a sweet perfume that attracts butterflies. They come out in early July and last for 2-4 weeks upon weather conditions. Narrowly elongated leaves are 10-20 cm long, mid green, and look like peach tree leaves. They are very attractive and suitable for summer-style or exotic looking gardens as in the landscape they can do the same job as oleander leaves. I ...entire article

This variety of Hinoki cypress should be on a pedestal in our garden centre as it holds a name very similar to our company name: Saffron Spray. Well, it is nice but just for a name we will not go overboard. It is an evergreen, compact conifer with mid green leaves and random appearance of bright yellow flat sprays as we see on Calocedrus decurrens "Aureovariegata". The rest of the shrub bears tiny, fine needles and these sprays look so different as if they had nothing to do with it, as if they perhaps had fallen o ...entire article

Théa is an attractive variety of sweet gum selected for its autumn foliage colour and smaller size. Its leaves are typically 5-lobed, rich green, turning to long lasting shades of bright red and burgundy purple in autumn. The tree grows slowly or moderately into a narrowly pyramidal shape. Unlike other sweet gums this one can reach only some 8m tall when mature which makes it suitable for mid-sized gardens and narrow streets. If you wish to keep it smaller prune it at the end of winter. Another nice feature is the fruit. Formed in about 3 cm wide spiny spheres they ca ...entire article

This giant dogwood has another name which, in my opinion, characterizes the plant much better = wedding cake tree. Looking at the habit of the more commonly grown cultivar Variegata one knows exactly what it means. This beauty can easily become a show-stopping specimen in a garden of literally any style. Its tiered branches look exactly like several layers of a wedding cake and the white-variegated foliage stands for rich sugary icing. Want a piece? The leaves are elliptic, deciduous, mid green in the middle with rich white margins. They are always pendent and a ...entire article

Another jewel among magnolias came from New Zealand, again, and was raised by Mark Jury. Its name is Black Tulip® and has been sought after thanks to its very deep purple colour of flowers. They are rich purple in colour, not too large – only about 10-15 cm across, goblet-shaped making a tight cup that almost never opens up. Thick, waxy petals are not translucent which emphasizes the flower colour. Deciduous leaves are mid green. The plant grows into an upright shrub at moderate growth rate. Protected in EU by grant No. 14218 (Plant Breeders Rights). Magnolias ...entire article

Pierrolino® is a novelty of Japanese spindle from the Netherlands, patented in 2003. It was found by Andianus van Heesben as a naturally occurring mutation among other Japanese spindles. It is a slow growing, low shrub with leaves that emerge almost white, changing to white-mottled later and turning dark green at the bottom of the shrub when mature. Its ultimate height is expected to stop at about 1m. This variety was patented in the US under PP 13,852 and in EU 10611, propagation without licence is prohibited. Japanese spindle responds very well to pruning even on ...entire article

Jumbo is an old bamboo favourite with soft green, pointed leaves, about 10 cm long, elegantly hanging on the canes offering a relaxed appearance. Young canes are green and change to yellow when mature. It grows into a compact, dense bush which looks good not only as a specimen plant but absolutely fantastic as an informal evergreen hedge. With its mature height of about 3 m it is not a giant plant and can create a perfect feeling of privacy in both Japanese and European-styled landscapes. This bamboo is clump-growing so it does not need root barrier as it is not invasiv ...entire article

Heart of Darkness® is a bamboo variety from Germany selected in 1990. It has dark olive green, mid sized, evergreen leaves, 10-15 cm long. Young canes are green maturing to yellow. The plant is compact and bushy and its mature height is between 2 and 3 meters which makes it suitable for small gardens, too. This bamboo is clump-growing so it does not need root barrier as it is not invasive. Grow it in fertile, moisture retentive soil. If it has enough moisture it can be grown in full sun, otherwise in part shade. It is commonly hardy to -21°C and withstands short spe ...entire article

Spike winterhazel is a rare shrub from Japan and Taiwan. It is especially popular among hobbyists and garden enthusiasts. Its small, primrose yellow flowers are born in 10-15 cm long, pendent racemes from early March until end April, weather conditions pending. They are fragrant and do not mind light frosts or snow. The shrub is usually literally flooded with flowers bare branches every year. It has more flowers in one raceme compared to corylopsis pauciflora and more erect branches. Deciduous leaves are ovate, upto 10 cm across, bronze when young, bright to dark green in summer ...entire article

Hot Shot Variegated is a Japanese azalea with small, elliptic, dark green leaves with white margins. They are evergreen in zone 7 and semi-evergreen in zone 6 when temperature drops below -18°C. The plant will always make new leaves in spring again even it loses foliage completely. The flowers are large, bright red, opening from upright buds. In 10 years it can be some 50 cm tall and wide. We recommend growing it in semi-shade in zones 5 and 6. Japanese azaleas need light, permeable soil that is acidic, constantly moist (keep azaleas mulched at all times) and moderately ...entire article

Gouchaultii is an attractive variety of Tatarian dogwood with broadly ovate, deciduous, mid green leaves with rich golden-yellow margins. The leaves emerge bronze-pink flushed and keep a certain portion of this shade throughout the spring, showing it again in early autumn. Mature stems are burgundy red while young twigs are yellow-green from spring to summer. It is a fast grower. This care-free shrub will grow in almost any soil, preferably in full sun, about 2,5m wide and tall. It can be trimmed from end spring until mid summer or cut back to some 10 cm if grown for th ...entire article

Eisprinzessin® is a mound-forming Japanese azalea with pure white, double flowers. They are extra large for an azalea, almost 6 cm across. They come out in abundance from end May until mid June. When the shrub is in full bloom the plant looks like a mound of fresh snow with glittering icing and the foliage is nearly invisible. But for all the rest of the year the evergreen leaves are more than a dignified feature as they are deep green, partly glossy and hold well in winter. The plant grows slowly into a compact cushion, about 30 cm tall and 50-60 cm wide in 10 years. ...entire article

Crotonifolia Gold is a spotted laurel variety selected from Crotonifolia. Its leaves are distinctly yellow spotted, new and top leaves are yellower than bottom and older leaves. They are extremely large for a hardy evergreen plant – usually 10-15, sometimes upto 20 cm long and 8-10 cm wide. Variegation differs from plant to plant. Crotonifolia is a female variety which can have quite attractive, large, red berries if pollinated by a male plant, e.g. aucuba japonica. Birds do not seem to like the berries very ...entire article

Shishio is a Japanese maple with surprisingly regular habit. Its branches grow upright in the angle of about 45 degrees forming a compact shrub. It looks great on a stem. The deciduous leaves are palmate, red when young, changing to medium green in summer and red again in autumn. Slow grower to about 2.5m. Pruning is not needed as it forms a dense and compact shrub even when young. It is an easy-care, hardy plant, which does not need much maintenance. For best leaf colouring it needs plenty of sun so make sure the roots are well mulched, too. Japanese maples prefer aci ...entire article

Shindeshojo is a classic variety of Japanese maple that offers exactly what these plants are popular for: bright colours of spring and autumn foliage. Shindeshojo has palmate, 5- or 7-lobed deciduous leaves which emerge fire engine red in spring, turn olive green with pink and white speckles in summer, and change to golden orange and red again in autumn. It grows slowly about 2m tall and wide. Pruning is not needed as it forms a dense and compact shrub even when young. It is an easy-care, hardy plant, which does not need much maintenance. For best leaf colouring it nee ...entire article

Ruby Spice has flowers of has the deepest shade of pink so far selected. Flowers are bell-shaped, light pink, opening from rose buds, formed in upright racemes in July and August. They have a lovely, sweet fragrance, hence its name. Flower buds are deep pink. Oval leaves are deciduous, mid-green, upto 10 cm long, finely serrated and look like hydrangea leaves. For dense foliage it does not like being shaded by other, smaller companion plants very near. This variety requires no trimming, just remove some of the old wood at the base in winter. Grow it in acid, fertile, humus ...entire article

Kathy is one the modern Japanese spindles with variegated foliage and compact growth. Its evergreen leaves are ovate or almost rounded, finely serrated, deep green in the centre and creamy white at margins. Stems are very light green. Its attractive colour play will brighten up any dark corner of your garden and will be pretty in mixed borders next to other solid green plants. Japanese spindle responds very well to pruning even on older wood – it always re-sprouts reliably, just fertilize it after cutting into older wood. Cut off long lead and side branches to a s ...entire article

Deodar – Himalayan cedar is the most graceful of all cedars. It has strictly pyramidal habit when young, spreading branching and weeping ends. Aurea is an extremely attractive variety with golden-yellow to yellow-green needles. They are evergreen, borne in whorls of 20-30. Female cones appear in summer. It grows slower to a much smaller size than the species = about 4-5m when mature so it can easily fit into a mid-sized garden. Older plants form unique shapes. Golden cedar is demanded mainly in Germany and the Netherlands where colourful foliage has always been to ...entire article

Smooth cypress comes from SW of the USA and is probably the only true cypress that can stand winters down to zone 6. Fastigiata varieties are of columnar habit and are a sought after plant for both exotic types of gardens as well as typical Central-European landscapes where it will create a perfect specimen planted among other conifers. Fastigiata Aurea is a gorgeous variety with bright colour of needles. Although the Latin name Aurea means golden, the smooth needles are beige to sand yellow while branches nearer the trunk are silvery grey making a perfectly con ...entire article

Gardenia is a well-known indoor plant with fantastic fragrance. However, in 1990´s a few breeders came with selections that were supposed to grow happily outdoors, too. Among those Kleim’s Hardy was one of the first truly successful attempts. Kleim’s Hardy is a small, slow growing evergreen shrub that can take winters up to zone 7. Its flowers are 3-4 cm across, creamy white with yellowish centres, heavily scented with the typical jasmine-like fragrance. It blooms from end spring until early or mid summer. The ovate leaves are deep green and highly glossy ...entire article

Fastigiata Glauca is a blue green or silvery blue version of an attractive form of Atlas cedar Fastigiata with strictly narrow, columnar habit. Its lateral branches are short and densely cover the leader. If a branch goes mad and grows too long in the unwanted direction just clip it, any time of year. Other pruning is not required or even suggested. It grows slowly. While the green version Fastigiata is a great substitute for the Italian cypress which is not hardy in central Europe, this bluish form is welcome ...entire article

If you like cedars or perhaps if you are a collector or just an enthusiast don’t miss this one. It is a beautiful example of a form that is rarely seen in private gardens or arboretums. Fastigiata is an attractive form of Atlas cedar with strictly narrow, columnar habit. Its evergreen, short needles are deep green with slightly blue-green tint. Lateral branches are short and densely cover the leader. If a branch goes mad and grows too long in the unwanted direction just clip it, any time of year. Other pruning is not required or even suggested. It grows slowly. ...entire article

Darwin’s barberry is another of few evergreen barberries with sufficient hardiness for our climate conditions. It originates in Latin America, in the regions of Chile and Argentina and was first discovered by Charles Darwin, what a surprise, in 1835. It is a nice and reliable shrub with holly-like, evergreen leaves that are deep green and very glossy. In mid spring appears profusion of up to 5 cm long clusters with small, scented, fantastic golden yellow or almost orange flowers. They are followed by spherical blue fruit in autumn that is a delicacy for birds that can start a f ...entire article

Hart’s tongue is not a delicacy on a plate in the middle of a hunting season. It is a beautiful and hardy fern with very attractive foliage. This fern has entire leaves which make it stand apart from all other hardy ferns. Cristatum is a variety which looks even more interesting as its leaves are curly and split or crested at tips. Leaves are glossy, fresh green and hardy enough to withstand hard frost. However, we still recommend cutting off all leaves in March/April to encourage growth of new, strong and healthy leaves. They respond well to fertilizing: the more ...entire article

Variegata is an attractive version of angelica tree with creamy-white variegated leaf margins. Its bi-pinnate leaves are up to 1 meter long, compound of 3-5 cm long, ovate leaflets, pale or silvery green on the reverse. The leaves grow horizontally from a single stem (usually), making nearly flat layers of foliage. They fall down early in the season but before they do they change colour to fiery orange and burgundy red. At the end of summer it makes huge, erect panicles of numerous but small, creamy white flowers that may be followed by non-edible (not poisonous) purple ...entire article