Millais Nurseries
Companion Plants
Companion plants are selected based on their ability to thrive in the same conditions as the primary plants with which they are paired. In the context of rhododendrons and azaleas, we have chosen a large range of companion plants to blend nicely in woodland settings or even in much smaller gardens, providing an extra burst of colour to the borders.
Our selection of companion plants includes a diverse range of options, from evergreen and deciduous shrubs to grasses and herbaceous perennials. Each type offers unique benefits and characteristics, making them ideal partners for rhododendrons and azaleas.
Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' AGM
Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster'(H6) A clump-forming deciduous perennial grass with flat, arching leaves up to 90cm long and bronze flower panicles in summer that turn pale brown. Prefers moist well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 150cm high x 100cm wide in 5 years.
Campanula Sarastro
(H7) From early summer to early autumn, large, deep purple, pendent, bell-shaped flowers, approximately 5cm in length, bloom on tall stems above rosettes of large, hairy leaves. This tall bellflower species produces flowers over a long period and requires minimal maintenance. As a clump-forming perennial, it can be incorporated into a cottage-garden design, a scheme focused on blues and purples, or...
Cornus alba Nightfall
(H6) Cornus alba 'Nightfall' offers dark green spring leaves that turn rich purple by autumn. Its velvety grey leaf undersides contrast with darker foliage, and red winter branches add visual interest year-round. This hardy, low-maintenance deciduous shrub is not only beautiful but also practical. It is hardy and more upright than others in its collection. It works well as a hedge, screen, or background...
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldschleier' AGM
(H6) Tufted hairgrass. A clump forming evergreen perennial with dark bluish-green leaves in summer. It produces golden-yellow flowers from late spring to summer, followed by long-lasting plumes for an autumn display. Like moist well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 100cm x 100cm in 5 years.
Echinops Taplow Blue
(H7) This hardy, upright herbaceous perennial features divided, prickly dark green leaves with a whitish underside. It produces rounded, steel-blue flower heads on branched, leafy stems through the summer. Likes a well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Approx 125cm high x 100cm wide in 5 years.
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.
Hamamelis intermedia Orange Beauty
(H5) 'Orange Beauty' is a robust shrub reaching 3m tall and 4m wide, in 10-20 years, featuring broadly elliptic leaves that shift from yellowish green with maroon-purple flushes to dark green, then yellow and orange in autumn. It produces lightly fragrant flowers with dark purplish-red calyces and twisted, crimped petals over 2cm long, yellow-orange with red-purple bases, blooming from mid- to late...
Hamamelis intermedia Rubin AGM
(H5) A rounded, upright deciduous shrub or small tree with wrinkled, oval green leaves that turn yellow and orange in autumn. It produces lightly scented, ruby-red flowers with narrow, crimped petals on bare branches in late winter and early spring. Easy to grow in an open but unexposed site. Requires moist but well-drained acid or neutral soil. 2.5-4m heigh in 10-20 years.
Hamamelis intermedia Ruby Glow
(H5) A fairly strong growing, upright, bushy shrub reaching 2.5m-4m heigh in 10-20 years, with rounded leaves (up to 16cm) that shift from medium green to dark green, then to yellow-orange-red in autumn. It produces slightly fragrant, purplish-red calyced flowers with curled coppery red petals (up to 2cm) from mid- to late winter. Grow in moderately fertile, neutral or preferably slightly acidic soil...
Heuchera 'Obsidian' AGM
(H6) A compact, mound forming perennial. Glossy purple/black foliage topped by upright dark reddish stems with small creamy flowers in the summer. Likes well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50cm x 50cm in 5 years.
Heuchera 'Shanghai'
(H6) A compact perennial, with silver-purple evergreen foliage, topped by panicles of small pale pink-white flowers in the summer. Likes well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50cm x 50cm in 5 years.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Koria' AGM
(H5) Large, flattened flowerheads with white sterile flowers surrounding pinkish or blue-green fertile flowers mid to late summer. A rounded, deciduous shrub with toothed dark green leaves. Prefers a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. Approx height 100-150cm in 5-10 years.
Hydrangea paniculata Limelight AGM
(H5) Panicles form a dense broad cone, entirely green at first. Sterile florets open pale lime green, later white. A slight pink flush deepens to give pink and green colours. This plant is a robust and upright spreading selection with distinctive colouring. Height 150-175cm in 10 years. Best in moist sunny positions.
For large panicles, the laterals should be pruned back to within 5-8cm of the previous...
Hydrangea paniculata Phantom AGM
(H5) Extremely large dense full heads of white flowers, turning coral pink by autumn. These are carried on strong stems. Spectacular, and one of the very best of the species. Height 150-175cm in 10 years. Best in moist sunny positions.
For large panicles, the laterals should be pruned back to within 5-8cm of the previous year's growth in early spring.
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...
Hydrangea paniculata Vanille Fraise
(H5) Loose pyramid-shaped clusters of flowers emerge creamy-white and turn shades of pink, before finally taking on rich red tones. Perfect for adding late summer colour to the shrub border, or for creating an informal, flowering hedge.To enhance flowering prune hard in early spring, cutting back the previous season's shoots to within a few buds of the permanent, woody framework of the plant
Full...
Jasminum nudiflorum AGM
(H5) A deciduous shrub with long, arching branches. Small green leaves from the spring and bright yellow flowers to 2.5cm in width in winter and spring. Like a sheltered position, with good well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. 200-250cm high and wide in 10 years.
Leucanthemum × superbum 'Alaska'
(H4) A clump forming herbaceous perennial with dark green, toothed, lance-shaped leaves. It produces bright white, single flowers with bright yellow centres that can bloom for an extended period in the summer if dead-headed regularly; it may require staking. Likes a moist but well-drained soil in full sun. 100cm high x 100cm wide in 5 years.
Leucanthemum × superbum 'Crazy Daisy'
(H4) A clump forming herbaceous perennial with dark green, toothed, lance-shaped leaves. It produces bright white, double flowers which have fringed and twisted petals and a bright yellow centres that can bloom for an extended period in the summer if dead-headed regularly; it may require staking. Likes a moist but well-drained soil in full sun. 100cm high x 100cm wide in 5 years.
Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Transparent' AGM
(H7) This deciduous grass forms neat clumps of arching, strap-like green leaves that transition to yellow in autumn. In late summer and autumn, tall feathery spikelet’s displaying fine, silvery purple flowers rise prominently above the foliage. Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Nandina domestica 'Obsessed'
Common name: Heavenly Bamboo(H5) A compact evergreen shrub valued for its striking red spring foliage, which matures to deep green. In midsummer, it produces attractive white flower clusters. Ideal for patio pots or as a colourful accent at the front of shrub borders, this plant offers year-round interest. Requires a sheltered location in full sun or partial shade in a moist, well-drained soil. Eventual...
Penstemon 'Snowstorm' (White Bedder)
Image owned and supplied by Prenplants Sussex Limited
(H3) An upright semi-evergreen perennial, with dark green leaves. Tubular funnel-shaped white flowers through the summer. Likes a well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 100cm high x 50cm wide in 5 years.
Penstemons should be planted in well-drained soil in an area with full sun or partial shade. Compost or well-rotted manure may be incorporated...
Penstemon Garnet AGM
Syn. Penstemon 'Andenken an Friedrich Hahn'
(H5) Spikes of small, tubular, deep wine-red flowers with white throat markings, grow from July to October among lance-shaped, bright green leaves. This perennial tends to form large leafy clumps and can be used to add colour to the middle of a sunny, well-drained border. The deep wine-red flowers provide contrast with acid greens, silver-leaved plants,...
Pieris Carnaval AGM
(H5) White urn shaped flowers in panicles during spring on a neat compact growing upright plant. Variegated evergreen leaves with cream edging, red new growth turns green in summer. Flowers best in light and airy position. Height 100-125cm in 10 years. Ideal for patio pots. Requires moist acid soil.
A superb new introduction from Holland, name sometimes translated to Pieris Carnival.
Pieris Forest Flame AGM
Brilliant red young foliage changes to pink, creamy-white then green. Large drooping white flowers in April-May. One of the larger and hardier growing selections of Pieris. Height 150cm in 10 years.
Pieris Mountain Fire AGM
(H5) Dense panicles of creamy white flowers, March to May. New leaves are bright red, changing to copper then maturing to deep green. A very hardy 'Lily of the Valley', suitable for sun or shade. Height 150cm in 10 years. Requires moist acid soil.
Salix gracilistyla 'Mount Aso'
The stems of this wonderful new form are clothed with fuzzy pink catkins in late winter and early spring. These look their best as they start to swell in mid- to late winter and make a wonderfully eye-catching feature for the winter garden. Even when the flowering has finished, the lush foliage, which has a silvery reverse, makes a great backdrop throughout the spring and summer for other plants that...
Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki' AGM (Flamingo Willow)
Flamingo willow(H5) A deciduous shrub or small tree with branches that droop slightly at the tips, reaching a height and spread of 2.5 meters in approx. 20 years. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves, up to 10 centimetres long, start pink in spring and mature to variegated shades of pink, creamy-white, and green before becoming predominantly green in summer. Yellow catkins appear on bare stems in spring,...
Sanguisorba Lilac Squirrel
Korean burnet 'Lilac Squirrel'(H6) From midsummer to early autumn, it produces pinkish-purple, fluffy, hanging flowers. This herbaceous perennial grows to about 1m, with a mat-forming, running rootstock. It has blue-green foliage with rounded, wavy-edged leaflets. Prefers moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Silene coronaria 'Alba' AGM
(H7) Pure white rounded flowers up to 3cm wide on branched stems in summer over clumps of woolly silver leaves. Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50-100cm high x 10-50cm wide in 2-5 years.
Silene coronaria AGM
rose campion(H7) Magenta red/rose-purple flowers up to 3cm wide on branched stems in summer over clumps of woolly silver leaves. Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50-100cm high x 10-50cm wide in 2-5 years.