Miniarboretum u Holubů

Miniarboretum u Holubů is a private botanical garden in Staříč, near Frýdek-Místek in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. Built and maintained by the Holub family over several decades, the roughly one-hectare grounds hold a collection reported at anywhere between 2,500 and nearly 2,750 species and cultivars of ornamental plants, ranging from conifers and heathers to azaleas, rhododendrons, maples and alpine flowers.

What makes this garden distinctive?

The Holub family's defining specialty is searching for, grafting and propagating so-called witch's brooms — rare, naturally occurring deformations on trees caused by genetic mutations, which produce a dense cluster of unusually short, tightly packed twigs. By grafting cuttings from these formations, the owners create dwarf trees resembling bonsai. Decades of this hobby have resulted in one of the more unusual private collections of such specimens, including a cultivar of Thuja occidentalis named Malonyana Holub after the family that developed it.

Layout and atmosphere

Rather than a simple botanical inventory arranged in rows, the site is designed as an immersive, fairy-tale-like garden. Rock gardens and small ponds are built using an enormous quantity of stone — some sources put the total at around 270 tonnes — combined with a flowering meadow that adds seasonal color throughout the year. Swings, loungers, benches and animal figures placed among the plantings make the space engaging for visiting families, not only for plant enthusiasts.

History

Work on the ornamental garden began at the turn of the 1990s (sources give both 1989 and 1993 as the starting point) and has continued without interruption for more than thirty years. This long, patient process of collecting, grafting and arranging specimens explains how such a dense and varied plant collection came to occupy a comparatively small plot of land.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Miniarboretum u Holubů located? The garden is in the village of Staříč, in the Frýdek-Místek district of the Moravian-Silesian Region, close to the Beskydy mountains.

How many plant species grow there? Reports vary between roughly 2,500 and nearly 2,750 species and cultivars, dominated by dwarf and unusual conifers alongside heathers, azaleas, rhododendrons, maples and alpine plants.

What are witch's brooms and why do they matter here? They are rare, naturally occurring mutations that make tree branches grow into dense, compact clusters of twigs. The Holub family specializes in finding and grafting these formations to create bonsai-like dwarf trees, which is the garden's signature feature.

Is the garden suitable for families with children? Yes. The grounds include swings, loungers and animal figures scattered among the plantings, making a walk through the garden appealing for younger visitors as well.

How long has the garden existed? Its construction started around the turn of the 1990s and has been carried on continuously by the Holub family for more than three decades.