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.
Featured Products
Eryngium Big Blue AGM
(H5) Rigid, branched stems are crowned with blue, thimble-shaped flowerheads, each encircled by a ruff of prickly, silvery-blue bracts in summer. This upright, herbaceous perennial reaches a height of up to 75 cm and features spiky, highly-divided, silvery-green foliage. Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun. Approx 100cm high x 50cm wide in 5 years.
£9.50
Potentilla Ron McBeath
(H7) Pretty cup-shaped flowers, approximately 2cm in diameter, rose pink with a red centre, and blooming throughout the summer. A clump-forming perennial to about 30cm tall and 50cm across, with five-fingered, dark green leaves. Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun.
£8.95
Salvia Salvito Scarlet
(H4) Dense spikes of dark buds open to crimson-red, tubular flowers throughout summer and autumn. This compact, upright perennial, often grown as an annual, features aromatic green, oval-shaped leaves. Prefers a moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
£8.95
Achillea Cloth Of Gold AGM
(H7) A tall, robust perennial reaching up to 1.8 meters in height, characterized by its divided foliage and large, flattened clusters of bright yellow flowers from Summer through to Autumn. It is well-suited for drying purposes. Likes a moist well-drained soil in full sun. Approx 200cm high x 100cm wide in 5 years
Achillea Pink Grapefruit
(H7) 'Pink Grapefruit' is a vigorous, compact perennial, with ferny leaves and clusters of flowers. The blooms have white centres and dark pink florets that fade to creamy pink from midsummer to early autumn. Likes full sun and a moist well-drained soil. Approx 100cm high x 50cm wide in 5 years.
Achillea Terracota
(H7) This herbaceous perennial plant exhibits a tall, clump-forming growth habit with feathery, silvery grey-green foliage. It produces flat clusters of flowers ranging in colour from deep yellow to terracotta, which gradually fade to cream. These blooms appear over an extended period from June through September. Likes full sun and a moist well-drained soil. Approx 150cm high x 50cm wide in 5 years.
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 Kent Belle AGM
(H7) An upright herbaceous perennial featuring heart-shaped basal leaves and smaller stem leaves, with loose clusters of deep violet, narrowly bell-shaped flowers measuring 5 cm in length during the summer season. Prefers moist well-drained soil in full sun. Approx 100cm high x 50cm wide in 5 years.
Campanula persicifolia alba
Image supplied and owned by Prenplants Sussex Limited
(H7) Loose spires of large, cup-shaped, white flowers appear on slender stems in early and mid-summer. A rosette forming perennial with narrow mid green toothed leaves. It's an ideal plant for the back of a mixed or herbaceous border, especially in partial shade. Prefers moist well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 100cm high x 50cm wide...
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...
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' AGM
white alder 'Ruby spice'
(H5) Numerous short spikes of rich pink, sweetly clove-scented flowers, (which unlike some cultivars notably retain their colour without fading), appearing in late summer and early autumn. A robust shrub, reaching up to 1.5 meters in height in approx. 10 years, characterised by its glossy dark green foliage that transitions to yellow in autumn. Prefers a sheltered position...
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.
Eryngium Big Blue AGM
(H5) Rigid, branched stems are crowned with blue, thimble-shaped flowerheads, each encircled by a ruff of prickly, silvery-blue bracts in summer. This upright, herbaceous perennial reaches a height of up to 75 cm and features spiky, highly-divided, silvery-green foliage. Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun. Approx 100cm high x 50cm wide in 5 years.
Helichrysum italicum (Curry Plant)
(H4) An evergreen sub-shrub with bushy growth, linear silvery-grey leaves that have a curry scent, and small yellow flowerheads arranged in domed clusters through the summer. Prefers well-drained soil in full sun.
Heuchera 'Blackberry Jam' AGM
(H6) A clump-forming perennial. Glossy, bold foliage in shades of rich purple and maroon with dark veining, topped by upright panicles of small white bell flowers in the summer. Likes well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50cm x 50cm in 5 years.
Heuchera 'Huckleberry'
(H6) A clump-forming perennial. Silver foliage, which turns pink during autumn, with dark purple undersides, topped by upright short stems of small pale pink flowers that fade to white once opened in the summer. Likes well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50cm x 50cm in 5 years.
Heuchera 'Mulberry'
2nd Image supplied and owend by Prenplants Sussex Limited
(H5) An evergreen to semi-evergreen compact, mound forming variety of Heuchera. Bright mulberry coloured foliage with dark purple veins topped by upright stems of small bell-shaped white flowers in the summer. Likes well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50cm x 50cm in 5 years.
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.
Heuchera 'Silver Gumdrop'
(H6) An evergreen compact, clump forming variety of Heuchera. Purple and silver foliage topped by upright stems of small bell shaped pink flowers in the summer. Likes well-drained or moist well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 50cm x 50cm in 5 years.
Hosta Halcyon AGM
(H7) 'Halcyon' is a compact herbaceous perennial with ovate, thick-textured, blue-grey leaves up to 20cm long. Light greyish-lavender, bell-shaped flowers are borne on stems reaching 40cm. Prefers moist but well- drained soil in partial shade.
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' AGM
(H6) Very Large spherical heads of white sterile flowers to 25cm across in summer. 'Annabelle' is a bushy deciduous shrub with broadly oval leaves. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
Will tolerate all aspects and an exposed or sheltered location.
Hydrangea arborescens Strong Annabelle
(H6) Rounded heads of sterile white flowers in summer , which open with a hint of green and can be up to 30cm across, held on strong stems. A deciduous shrub, reaching up to 1.5m in height, with large oval leaves. Prefers a moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Kardinal' AGM
(H5) Large rich red to purple lace-cap flowers from summer and through the autumn in acidic soils, while neutral or alkaline soils yield pinker flowers. A rounded, upright deciduous shrub with dark green, serrated leaves. Prefers a sheltered position and partial shade with a moist but well-drained soil. Approx. height and spread 100-150cm in 5-10 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 macrophylla 'Zorro' AGM
(H5) Large flattened lacecap flower heads adorned with ultramarine ray florets, occasionally exhibiting white centres through the summer. A robust, rounded yet upright deciduous shrub featuring deep purple-black stems. Its dark green leaves exhibit striking autumnal coloration. Prefers a sheltered position and partial shade with a moist but well-drained soil. Approx. height and spread 100-150cm in...
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 Pink Diamond AGM
(H5) Massive heads of conical flowers, white in summer turning deep pink through autumn, with a red reverse as they age. Tolerates more sun and exposure than most hydrangeas. 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...
Hydrangea quercifolia Alice
Large pointed panicles of single white flowers, turning pink as they age in summer. Vigorous form of oak leaved hydrangea with lobed deep green leaves, turning red and purple in autumn. Height 150-175cm in 10 years. Best in sun or light shade.
Hydrangea quercifolia Ice Crystal
(H5) Large, dense, upright flower clusters from mid-summer to autumn, which start white and become pink as they age. A deciduous, compact shrub reaching 1.2m in approx. 10 years, with very deeply lobed green leaves that turn red and purple in autumn. Prefers moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade (avoid a south facing aspect).
Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen
Profuse, dense, conical, upright flower panicles composed of large white ray florets in summer, turning pink in autumn. Large lobed green leaves turn bronze-purple in autumn. Height 1.5m in 10 years. Best on moist acidic soils.
A striking form of oak leaved hydrangea, Snow Queen is a deciduous, mound-forming shrub, with great autumn colour.
Hydrangea quercifolia Snowflake AGM
A striking form of oak leaved hydrangea in which several series of bracts are on each flower giving double appearance. Large white florets in late summer, with great autumn colour. Height 1.5m in 10 years. Best on moist acidic soils.
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.
Luzula nivea
2nd image supplied and owned by Prenplants Sussex Ltd
(H5) A slowly spreading evergreen grass. Narrow dark green leaves to 30cm long and clusters of small white flowers in early and mid-summer on stems to 60cm tall. 100cm High x 50cm Wide after 5 years, prefers moist well-drained soil in full shade or partial shade.
Molinia 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.
Panicum Heavy Metal AGM
(H5) A deciduous perennial grass reaching approximately 1.2 meters in height, with clumps of upright, metallic blue-grey leaves that turn yellow in autumn. It produces large panicles of small purple-green spikelet's in early autumn. Prefers moist but well-drained soil in full sun.
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.
Penstemon Midnight
Image supplied and owened by Prenplants Sussex Limited
(H4) A clump forming semi-evergreen perennial, with dark green leaves. Upright tubular dark purple blue flowers with a white throat heavily flushed pink through the summer. Likes well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 90cm high x 45cm wide in 5 years.
Penstemon Sour Grapes
image supplied and owned by Prenplants Sussex Limited
(H4) An upright semi-evergreen perennial, with glossy dark green leaves. Dense panicles of tubular, two-lipped flowers blending purple and blue shades, whitish within the throat, June-August. Likes a well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 60cm high x 50cm wide in 3-5 years.
Phlox paniculata 'David' AGM
(H7) Fragrant white flowers from mid- to late summer. A bushy, upright perennial reaching 1.1m, with dark green linear leaves. Prefers moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
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 japonica Little Heath
(H5) Pink flowers in spring on a neat compact growing plant with small variegated leaves, cream edging, pink new growth.
Flowers best in a light airey position.
Ideal for patio pots.
Height 100-125cm in 10 years.
Requires moist acid soil.
Pieris Japonica Passion
(H5) Panicles of maroon red flowers, March-April, followed by red new growth in spring. A neat evergreen shrub, best in a sheltered spot away from cold winds. Sun or light shade. Height 100-125cm in 10 years. Best in moist acid soils.
Pieris Katsura
(H5) Rosy pink flowers in February and March. Outstanding new plant from Japan with deep bronze new foliage through the year. Best in light shade. Height 125-150cm in 10 years. Requires moist acid soil.