Millais Nurseries
Species Rhododendrons
Species Rhododendrons often have wonderful foliage, but are fairly specialist and are best grown by more experienced gardeners.
We pride ourselves in one of the best ranges of Rhododendron species in the country, and we try to propagate these from collectors' seed, or recognised good forms. Many new species Rhododendrons have recently been introduced, mainly from the Himalayas, and we include some for the first time. Many are well worth growing for their foliage alone!
Please note that the flower colour of some species can vary considerably from one clone to the next. eg R. campanulatum can flower from white to pink or deep lilac.
Rhododendron annae
Lovely white open bell shaped flowers, usually with purple spotting, appear in May - June. This plant has interesting dark green narrow leaves and outstanding young foliage. A bushy upright plant that is one of our favourites. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
Recommended for lovely habit and foliage.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: sheltered woodland.
Habit: upright.
Group: Species Rhododendron.
Subsection:...
Rhododendron arboreum albotomentosum KW 21976
(H4) Intense scarlet red flowers without any spots, in neat compact trusses, April-May. Distinctive white spongy indumentum on undersides of leaves, petioles and branchlets. Collected by Frank Kingdon-Ward at about 3000m, on Mount Victoria, West central Burma in 1956. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
Rare in cultivation, and formerly classified as a subspecies of R. delavayi.
This plant is relatively...
Rhododendron arboreum cinnamomeum 'Everest Reunion'
This plant has neat trusses of pink flowers in March-April. It has distinctive cinnamon red indumentum on the underside of the large leathery leaves. R. arboreum cinnamomeum 'Everest Reunion' makes a good show in our garden and was collected by Colonel Charles Wylie, (David's uncle) who was in charge of logistics and Nepali porters on the successful 1952 Everest expedition. This selection has attractive...
Rhododendron argipeplum (EGM/Borde Hill)
(BARBATA H4-5) Fine scarlet red bell-shaped flowers in a small truss. February-April. Bristly branchlets when young. Reddish smooth and flaking bark. Indumentum under leaf. Height 80-100 cm in 10 years.
Recommended for early flower and interesting bark and foliage.
Plantsman range.
Ideal position: sheltered woodland.
Habit: tree-like.
Group: Species Rhododendron.
Subsection: Barbata.
Introduction...
Rhododendron argyrophyllum 'Chinese Silver' AGM
Red in bud, opening to excellent clear pink bell-shaped flowers, with a darker flushing. Flowering in early May argyrophyllum Chinese Silver is an excellent clone that has attractive dark green silver-backed leaves. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
Recommended for wonderful foliage.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: sheltered woodland.
Habit: tree-like.
Group: Species Rhododendron.
Subsection: Argyrophylla.
Introduction...
Rhododendron bureavii AGM
Lovely white rose flushed flowers spotted crimson or purple. Flowering in May this is a superb foliage plant, with thick woolly indumentum on the underside of the leaves turning from white to rusty red with age. One of the most distinctive rhododendron species. Our selected clone is propagated from a large plant growing at Crosswater which has great flowers and grows in a neat rounded habit. It has...
Rhododendron bureavii 'Chocolate Dane' AGM
(TALIENSIA H7) White flowers, flushed rose when young, and lightly spotted crimson or purple. May. A superb foliage plant, with thick woolly indumentum turning from creamy white to orangey brown. Height 50-75 cm in 10 years.
A wonderful selection of R. bureavii from noted Danish collector and breeder Svend Hansen. The leaves are usually 8-9 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, and are broadly lanceolate to elliptical,...
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...
Rhododendron campanulatum aeruginosum
A rare, low growing form with purple pink flowers in April. Chiefly remarkable for its intense shiny green foliage with a bluish metallic bloom and an interesting silky buff indumentum on the underside. This is a choice plant that is slow to flower, but well worth the wait! Height 50-60cm in 10 years.
The lithograph is by Walter Hood Fitch. It is based on a sketch by Joseph Dalton Hooker whilst in...
Rhododendron cardiobasis 'Pink Cloud' AC4221
(FORTUNEA H4) Large pinky white funnel shaped campanulate flowers with 7 lobes, late May-June. Distinctive large rounded leaves with a heart shaped base. Related to R. orbiculare. Height 50-75cm in 10 years. Requires moist acid soils.
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 fortunei discolor 'John Elcock' AGM
Very attractive fragrant pink flowers in May. fortunei discolor John Elcock is part of the Houlstonii Group, with earlier flowering and smaller, narrower leaves. A fast growing plant that flowers after 5 years. It always flowers well here at Crosswater Farm! Height 175-200 cm in 10 years.
Recommended for lovely flower.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: sheltered woodland.
Habit: upright, tree-like.
Group:...
Rhododendron hemsleyanum AC1239
Beautiful fragrant white flowers sometimes tinged pink with a yellow green throat in June-August. This plant is distinctive and exotic looking with a wavy edge to the leaf (looks a bit like a small banana leaf). Height 150cm in 10 years. This is another variety that takes up to 5 years to flower but is easy and fast growing although it will need shelter from stong winds. Named after the English botanist,...
Rhododendron insigne AGM
A great plant with stunning pink bell shaped flowers with crimson spotting in May - June. It has distinctive pointed deep green glossy leaves with a silver/coppery metallic sheen on the underside. This is a tough plant with a neat bushy habit, particularly if grown in plenty of light. It does benefit from deadheading after flowering. Height 80 to 100cm in 10 years.
Recommended for good foliage and...
Rhododendron irroratum 'Polka Dot' BH2511
(IRRORATA H4-5) A super selection with striking flowers that are white and heavily spotted deep purple suffused pink in March-April. It has hairy pedicels, ovary and style. The plant is reasonably upright in habit, with a height of 125-150cm in 10 years.
This irroratum 'Polka Dot' clone is always one of the most striking flowers on the show benches at Rhododendron competitions. Our clone originates...
Rhododendron oreodoxa var. fargesii AGM
Lovely open bell-shaped mauve-pink flowers with darker speckling. A free-flowering plant in March-April that is easy to grow. With an upright habit, it has attractive grey-green leaves that curl up in cold or sunny weather. Height 150-180cm in 10 years. oreodoxa meaning 'Glory of the mountains' and fargesii is after Pere Farges (1844-1912), French foreign missions in NW Sichuan. This variety has slightly...
Rhododendron pachysanthum 'Crosswater' AGM
A superb foliage plant with silvery blue covering (tomentum) on the upper leaf surface, and tan wooly indumentum underneath the leaves that is silvery white on the young growth. Distinctive leaves and free flowering pinky white flowers spotted red or green in April and early May form a neat rounded truss. Originally collected from Taiwan, our pachysanthum Crosswater clone is recognised as one of the...
Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum AGM
Lovely early bell-shaped flowers pink in bud, opening to white flushed pink, with crimson spotting in April-May. This pretty little plant has wonderful thick, silvery green pointed leaves with an interesting persistent fawn indumentum on the midrib on the underside of the leaf. Height 40-50 cm in 10 years. Give only a light dressing of fertiliser to prevent leaf scorch.
Recommended for outstanding...
Rhododendron Pubicostatum
(TALIENSIA H7) Trusses of light pink flowers. April-May. Excellent foliage with sparse brown indumentum on underside. Probably natural hybrid between R. bureavii and R. sikangense. Height 40-60 cm in 10 years.
Rhododendron roxieanum var. oreonastes AGM
Attractive white flowers flushed pink with delicate purple spotting in April - May. This is a wonderful choice foliage plant with dark narrow linear leaves that have an interesting buff indumentum on the underside. This is one of the species most prized by Rhododendron collectors, due to its fantastic foliage. However it can be shy to flower in some years and it dislikes fertilizer.
Recommended...
Rhododendron Species Collection (4 x 3 litre plants)
Picture for illustration only.
Here's a great offer for anyone who fancies a foray into the species world!.
We grow these plants in 3L pots and we normally sell them for £29.95 each. Heights vary from 50cm to 150cm metres tall in 10 years, variety depending, and often have interesting foliage.
This special offer is for online purchase only, but you can 'Click and Collect' at the checkout if...
Rhododendron tsariense
Gorgeous pinky white flowers with crimson spotting in April. A rare plant with superb foliage that has dense rufous indumentum on the lower leaf surface and sometimes on the upper surface. A lovely compact slow growing plant that needs good drainage to perform well. Avoid using fertilizer with this plant. Height 40-50cm in 10 years.
Ideal for small gardens.
Plantsman range.
Ideal position: sheltered...
Rhododendron wardii LS&T5679
This plant has lovely saucer shaped clear yellow flowers, with a wine red blotch, appearing in May to June. Wonderful blueish new growth opening to dark green oblong or oblong-oval leaves. This is definitely one of our favourites that we would highly recommend. Height 120cm in 10 years. It needs a choice position with excellent drainage to perform well.Named for Frank Kingdon Ward (1885-1958), noted...
Rhododendron wiltonii AGM
Pretty white flowers flushed pink with crimson blotch in a tight truss. Flowering in April-May it is very free flowering with age and quite easy to grow provided it is not given too much fertilizer. Young growth of creamy 'candles' contrast with older deep green foliage and cinnamon indumentum on the underside of the leaves. Height 50cm in 10 years. Named after Sir Colville E. Wilton of the Chinese...
Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Koichiro Wada' AGM
Pink in bud opening to delightful white bell shaped flowers giving the appearance of apple blossom, in the form of a compact truss in May. It features a distinctive white fluffy covering (tomentum) on the top of young foliage which washes off during the course of the summer, exposing the dark green glossy upper surface of the leaves. The lower surface of the leaves also starts off with a silvery indumentum...
Rhododendron yuefengense
This is a new species recognised by Chinese authorities (Rhodos of China volume 3). Pale pink bell shaped flowers in June, on a dense compact plant, with attractive rounded leaves. It flowers profusely from a young age, and the flowers seem to last well. Height 75-100cm in 10 years, growing in a broad mounded habit. Unusual, and sort after.
• Recommended for compact and lower growing.• Easy...