Millais Nurseries
Best Sellers
Rhododendron Paola
(H6) Wonderful soft pink flowers with darker reddy-brown centres, opening in late May/early June with dark green matt foliage. This variety forms a dense compact plant growing wider than high. 125-150cm in ten years. Once again, its compact habit makes this plant ideal for middle of large boarders or perfect for the smaller modern garden.
• Recommended for: Smaller modern Gardens.• Easy...
Acer palmatum 'Bi-Hoo'
New leaves have tints of pink as they emerge in spring, then green summer leaves turn gold to red in autumn. Handsome yellow and orange winter stems. Best in sun or light shade. Forms a small tree or large shrub 2-4 m tall in 10 years.
With the colourful winter stems, Acer palmatum 'Bi-hoo' is an eye-catching plant all year and grows to be a large shrub or very small tree in time. It is best in...
Hamamelis Arnold Promise
Large fragrant bright yellow spider-like flowers, which are frost hardy in winter, January to March. This Witch Hazel gives lovely autumn foliage colours of reds and yellows. Height 150-175cm in 10 years. Best in an open position.
Deciduous Azalea Helena Evelyn
(H6) Rich sugar pink 'Homebush' hybrid. Grows best in light dappled shade or full sun. This is a doubled flowered plant of excellent quality and a lovely shade of pink. Height 150cm in 10 years.
One of 4 lovely 'Homebush' hybrids bred by noted New Forest Azalea breeder George Hyde, who bred the Solent strain of Azaleas for Exbury Gardens. We have propagated these exclusively from the garden of his...
Rhododendron Lem's Monarch AGM
Probably one of the best American hybrids ever. This plant is red in bud opening to huge superb pink flower trusses, with red edging fading to pale pink. It is a truely striking, choice, dense plant. Lems Monarch is stunning in late May and early June. Height 150-180cm in 10 years.
Recommended for: Hedging/screening and stunning flower.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: Most garden situations.
Habit:...
Rhododendron degronianum heptamerum 'Oki Koki'
(PONTICA H4) Pink in bud, opening to white flowers with a deeper lining in a dense truss during April-May. A tough, neat growing plant forming a dome shape, with dark recurved leaves (130-180 x 40-55mm) and fawn indumentum on the undersides. Height 75-100cm in 10 years.
This plant was selected and named by David Millais from a batch of seed kindly sent by botanist Yuji Kurashige, who collected...
Rhododendron Rusty Dane
Pink buds open to pure white flowers, mid to late May. A wonderful foliage selection which looks good all year, with cream indumentum on the new leaves turning rusty reddish brown, and thickly felted on the lower surface as they mature. Height and spread is 50-75cm in 10 years with a broad habit.
Another great Danish foliage selection from Svend Hansen, using the species parents R. bureavii x R....
Rhododendron Kokardia
Striking frilled lavender pink flowers with a prominent wine red blotch. Flowering in May this lovely plant has glossy green leaves. It is a dense plant that grows wider than tall. Height 140-160cm in 10 years.
Recommended for: Striking flower.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: Most garden situations.
Habit: Dense.
Group: Hybrid Rhododendron.
Parentage: 'Humboldt' (s) X 'Direktor E. Hjelm'.
Hybridization...
Evergreen Azalea Heidi
(H5) Hardy evergreen shrub bearing large peony-shaped soft pink flowers with a pale almost white centre, on a neat compact bush. Flowering late April - May. Height 75-100cm in 10 years.
Rhododendron trichanthum 'Honey Wood'
This excellent selection has striking deep purple flowers with green mottling, paler in the throat, and reddish purple on the outside. Flowering in June this is a bushy plant with interesting small hairy leaves and stems. This selection was grown by J.B. Stevenson and introduced by A.E. Hardy in 1969. Height 140-160cm in 10 years.
Recommended for lovely late flower to extend the season.
Easy to...
Deciduous Azalea Knaphill Apricot
Extremely attractive large apricot yellow flowers in early to mid May. This plant is an unusual colour which always attracts interest. Height 150-180cm in years. Requires a fairly sunny position.
Recommended for lovely flowers.
Easy to grow.
Group:Deciduous Azalea (Knaphill hybrid).
Parentage: unknown.
Hybridization date: pre 2000 (1950).
Bred by: Waterer (Bagshot). Origin: British.
Habit:...
Evergreen Azalea Willy
(H6) Large clear electric pink flowers in May. This is a vigorous tough old variety, with light autumn tints. Height 60-75cm in 10 years.
Please note this is a semi-evergreen variety and will drop leaves in the colder months.
Ideal for containers and small gardens.
Easy to grow.
Group:Evergreen Azalea (kaempferi hybrid).
Parentage: unknown.
Hybridization date: pre 2000 (before 1939).
Bred...
Rhododendron racemosum 'Rock Rose' AGM
An excellent selection with lovely medium pink flowers opening along the branches in April. It has a dense upright habit and tolerates drier conditions. Height 60-80cm in 10 years.
This plant was selected by J B Stevenson of the famous Tower Court gardens, from seed collected by Rock (R11265). It was introduced by Hydon Nurseries in 1970.
Recommended for pretty flowers.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position:...
Rhododendron Whidbey Island
This is a superb recent American introduction with wonderful big leaf foliage. It has pale purple flowers with a deeper edging and a dark blotch. Flowering in April, it has silvery young growth, with a wonderful tan indumentum on the underside of the leaves. It does need some wind shelter but it makes a wonderful plant of upright habit. Height 150cm in 10 years, then taller.
Raised at Meerkerk Rhododendron...
Rhododendron Dr H.C. Dresselhuys
(H6) Conical truss of purplish crimson red, funnel shaped flowers, in late May early June. Like most reds the flowers do better in a shadier spot. This plant is very fast growing with dark green foliage easily reaching 180-200cm in 10 years given the right conditions.
• Recommended for: Tough fast-growing variety• Ideal position: Dappled shade.• Habit: Bushy.• Group: Hardy Hybrid.•...
Calycanthus Aphrodite
12 litre plant shown in second photo
(H5) Deep red fragrant flowers tipped with cream, are borne from late spring and into summer. Glossy leaves, turn yellow with good autumn colour. A multi-stemmed shrub with upright arching branches. Height 150-175cm in 10 years. Best in sheltered sun or shade.
Aphrodite' is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with Magnolia like flowers up to 10cm in diameter.
Calycanthus...
Rhododendron Rabatz
(H6) Launched by us at Chelsea Flower Show 2011. Bright fiery red flowers with darker speckling, contrasting with pale anthers. Late May-June flowering. An attractive hybrid with wide funnel flowers. Height 150-180cm in 10 years.This is a third generation plant from Hans Hachmann in Germany. The lineage of this plant goes back to 'Hachmann's Feuerschein' in 1978. Since then, Hachmann kept re-crossing...
Rhododendron High Summer
Another later flowering beautiful yellow variety raised by our own Ted Millais. It has soft creamy yellow flowers in late June which always attract attention. It is best in light shade to preserve the blooms. Height 150-180cm in 10 years.As with all yellow Rhododendrons, this plant does need good drainage (but not dry conditions!).
Recommended for: Late flowers.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: Dappled...
Rhododendron Hammondii
Lovely dainty rosy pink tubular funnel shaped flowers (25mm) with white filaments, in a compact truss. This is a very useful late flowering variety in June which has attractive dark green narrow small leaves. It forms a super neat tidy shrub. Height 75-100cm in 10 years. Also known as 'Tenellum'.
Recommended for small gardens and mixed borders. Useful to extend the flowering season.
Easy to grow.
Ideal...
Rhododendron rubiginosum Ted Millais AGM
This selection, collected by the late Ted Millais, has attractive deep pink flowers in April to May. This is an easy vigorous strong-growing shrub that will grow large in time. It has interesting small bronze green foliage and is good for windbreaks and will tolerate neutral soil. Height 150-175cm in 10 years. Ted collected this on one of his early trips to the Himalayas during the 1980's. He gave...
Rhododendron Susan
Large trusses of flowers in two shades of mauve fading to near white, with darker margins and purple speckling. Flowering in April-May she has good, dark shiny foliage and makes a broad and dense plant. Height 140-160cm in 10 years.
Recommended for: Unusual flower colour.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: Most garden situations.
Habit: Dense.
Group: Hybrid Rhododendron.
Parentage: campanulatum...
Liquidamber styraciflua Worplesdon AGM
These trees sit at approximaltey 180cm not including the pot. They will come via Parcel Force on a 48 hour delivery due to height or they can be collected directly from the nursery.
A selection of 'Sweet Gum' with long narrow lobes, turning brilliant orange and yellow which lasts well in autumn. One of the best trees for autumn colour. Looks good all year. Height 2-4 metres in 10 years. Best on acid...
Magnolia Heaven Scent AGM
The 12 litre trees sit at approximaltey 180cm not including the pot. They will come via Parcel Force on a 48 hour delivery due to height or they can be collected directly from the nursery.
A magnificent small to medium sized deciduous tree, raised by Dr D Todd Gresham of Santa Cruz, California in 1955. Richly scented and free flowering pale pink tulip shaped flowers, getting darker towards the base,...
Rhododendron Dormouse
This delightful plant has delicate pink, two-toned bell-shaped flowers, that are deeper pink on the outside. Flowering in April. This is a great example of a williamsianum hybrid with lovely rounded leaves and attractive copper coloured young foliage in summer. Height 80-100cm in 10 years. We love this plant for it's unusual round leaves and fabulous young foliage. It's a real winner.
Ideal for...
Rhododendron Brigitte
Very pretty pale pink flowers with a darker pink edge in late May and early June. This plant has fine shiny foliage and has a compact habit, growing wider than tall. Height 100-120cm in 10 years.
Recommended for: Pretty flowers and good foliage.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: Most garden situations, dappled shade.
Habit: Dense.
Group: Hybrid.
Parentage: insigne (s) X 'Mrs...
Camellia sasanqua 'Cleopatra'
(H4) Semi-double, scented, rose pink flowers, 6-7.5cm, in Autumn/Winter. Forming a compact, bushy shrub. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
K. Sawada, Alabama, USA, 1934. Imported from Japan c.1929.
Rhododendron Geoffroy Millais
This plant has lovely white flowers flushed pink in tall conical trusses, with red spotting. It is slightly scented and flowers early to mid May. A vigorous bush with a strong upright habit. Height 150-180cm in 10 years.
Named by rhododendron expert John Guille Millais, who wrote the 2 large volume books on Rhododendrons (1917 and 1924). He named this for his son, Major Geoffroy "George" Millais who...
Rhododendron calophytum AGM (seed raised)
This plant has wonderful loose white or pale pink flowers with a deep reddish blotch and spots. Flowering in March-April it has exceptional large bright green leaves up to 36cm long. It will develop into an umbrella shaped tree. Height 150cm in 10 years. Big leaf Rhododendron species have great architectural foliage which looks stunning in a woodland setting or city courtyard garden. However, the lovely...
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'
(H4) White, lightly scented flowers in the summer on a compact tree of columnar habit. Glossy leaves with a deep brown felt on the underside. Best in full sun. Hardy through most of the UK apart from inland valleys, at altitude and central/northerly locations. May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold gardens. Requires moist acid soil. Height 200-400cm in 10 years.
Rhododendron Angelo
(H4-5) What a stunning plant with huge trusses of scented pale pink flowers in June. This is a vigorous plant with an open, treelike habit which performs best in sheltered woodland and shaded gardens. Height 180cm in 10 years.
Recommended for: Later flowering and scent.
Plantsman range.
Ideal position: Sheltered woodland, dappled shade.
Habit: Treelike.
Group: Hybrid Rhododendron.
Parentage:...
Rhododendron campanulatum
Attractive white, pale rose or lilac flowers, in loose but fairly compact trusses. Flowering in April and May it has lovely glossy leaves up to 18cm long with a continuous fawn/rusty brown indumentum underneath. It makes a fine shrub/small tree. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
Recommended for outstanding foliage.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: needs careful site selection, good drainage and not too...
Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra' AGM
Dark purple buds open to dark red purple flowers, paler inside, in late April to May. A slow growing, multi stemmed shrub. Height 150-175cm in 10 years.
Best in moist acid soils, but will tolerate neutral soils with good organic content.
Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg' AGM
Deep purple foliage which curls downwards at the edges. Will take full sun without burning. Foliage slowly turns deep reddish green, and then a rich crimson in the autumn. A strong, fast growing small tree with an open habit. Named after the beautiful Trompenburg arboretum in Rotterdam. Expected height is 200cm in 10 years.
Rhododendron Yellow Saucer
(H5) Orange red buds open to flat faced flowers of brilliant yellow flowers, with vivid red spotting on the upper lobe and around the ovary in the centre of the flower. A choice American hybrid with a compact habit, budding up and flowering in early May from a young age. Height 100-125cm in 10 years.
• Ideal for front of borders and small gardens.• Easy to grow.• Group: yakushimanum...
Dwarf Rhododendron Lavendula
(H5) Large deep lavender frilly flowers with darker spots, flowering in April. Dark green, highly scented, leaves turn bronze in winter. Very tough compact growing plant bred in Northern Germany. Height 50-75cm in 10 years. Requires moist acid soil.
• Recommended for: small gardens.• Easy to grow.• Ideal position: Sun or partial shade.• Habit: Shrub.• Group: Dwarf Rhododendron...
Evergreen Azalea serpyllifolium albiflorum
(H6) A rare plant with single small white flowers at the ends of wiry little branches, in May. A quaint and pretty little shrub from Southern Japan, with small leaves. Height 25-50cm in 10 years.
Low evergreen azalea, though mainly deciduous in winter. It grows to 75cm high, with slender stems covered with appressed, linear, dark brown bristles, that point towards the end of the shoot. Leaves narrowly...
Rhododendron Gwillt King
(H4) Bright turkey red flowers in a semi-circular truss, with spotting on the dorsal lobe and deep basal nectaries. April-May flowering, and suitable for mild locations only. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
This is a really good bright red flower of quality, and performs well in sheltered positions. Densely hairy on the undersides of leaves. It has recently been exhibited at RHS Rhododendron competitions,...
Rhododendron Snowy River
(H5) Rounded trusses of light purple flowers with deeper veining in April-May. Mid green interesting foliage with a pale fawn indumentum below. Height 100-125cm in 10 years.
• Recommended for: Interesting Foliage• Ideal position: Dappled shade in most garden situations.• Habit: Bushy.• Group: Hardy Hybrid.• Parentage: ririei X niveum• Hybridisation date: pre 2000 (1974)•...
Deciduous Azalea viscosum rhodanthum
Known as the 'Swamp Honeysuckle'. Beautifully scented pink honeysuckle type flowers, with darker blotches. A superb late summer flowering shrub for July and August. Good autumn foliage. Height 120-150cm in 10 years.
Recommended for wonderful late fragrant flower.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: most garden situations, with some shade.
Habit: upright.
Group: Deciduous Azalea.
Subsection: Pentanthera.
Introduction...
Rhododendron Hille
Showy creamy white flowers tinged pink at the edges, with prominent reddish speckling all over. This plant flowers in April so is best in a sheltered spot to protect the opening buds from frost. Height 120-150 cm in 10 years.
Recommended for: Striking early flower.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: Most garden situations.
Habit: Dense.
Group: Hybrid Rhododendron.
Parentage:...
Rhododendron Special Dane
(H6) Pure white flowers in a neat dome shaped truss during May, on a plant with wonderful foliage. Silver new growth in June turns light brown contrasting with the darker older leaves. Height 125 -150cm in 10 years.
Another wonderful 'Dane' series rhododendron noted for their excellent foliage, and raised by Svend Hansen in Denmark. The parents of this one are 2 great foliage species, R. bureavii...
Hydrangea paniculata Silver Dollar AGM
(H5) Elegant panicles of white flowers, turning light pink later in the season. These look good set against the dark upright stems. Fast growing, but neat compact habit. Height 125-150cm in 10 years. Best in moist sunny positions.
Bred and selected by Dutch plantsman Peter Zwijnenburg at the turn of the century,
For large panicles, the laterals should be pruned back to within 5-8cm of the previous...
Evergreen Azalea Peppina
(H5) Attractive mauve-violet flowers with prominent wine red blotch and speckles on the upper lobes. The flowers are about 55mm wide and the edges are recurved backwards which displays the markings well. Very floriferous in late May. It's from Hachmann's in Northern Germany, so it's very hardy. Height 30cm and spread 60cm in 10 years.
This variety is a semi-evergreen, so will drop some of its leaves...
Magnolia Galaxy AGM
Striking purple pink to red slightly scented flowers in mid to late spring make a stunning statement in the garden. This plant makes a wonderful small to medium sized deciduous tree, initially upright in habit, but maturing to a pyramidal shape. Magnolia liliiflora has been hybridized with many species and has produced fantastic results. William Kosar of the US National Arboretum raised this Magnolia...
Evergreen Azalea Panda AGM
Pure white flowers completely smother this neat little mound of a plant in May. Bred in Scotland and very hardy, it is slow growing, but one of the best dwarf white azaleas. Sometimes semi-deciduous. Height 40-60cm in 10 years.
Ideal for small gardens.
Easy to grow.
Group:Evergreen Azalea (N. European hybrid).
Parentage: 'Everest' X kiusianum white.
Hybridization date: pre 2000 (1973).
Bred...
Rhododendron ambiguum 'Jane Banks'
Clear primrose yellow flowers with greenish spots on the upper lobes in April - May. It is a tough, close growing shrub with a bushy upright habit and attractive small glossy leaves with glaucous scaly underside. A delightful plant that can be pruned hard after flowering. Height 100-120cm in 10 years.
R. ambiguum Jane Banks is a good clone raised at Hergest Croft Gardens in Herefordshire, which was...
Rhododendron Award
What a great plant! It has fragrant pinky white flowers that have a light yellow flare which open subtly to almost pure white with green spots. It forms a wide ball shaped truss in May. The foliage has fabulous bronzey young growth. Height 150-180cm in 10 years.This plant stole the show at our gold medal winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show exhibit in 2009. It proved very popular at the show and we absolutely...