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 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 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 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 cardiobasis 'Pink Cloud' AC4221 (Second's)
Please note these have been reduced as they are not first grade, they may be lacking flower buds, have marked leaves, not the best shape or have a hole/gap. If you are interested in any of these and wish to see photos please email or call and we can get some over to you.
(FORTUNEA H4) Large pinky white funnel shaped campanulate flowers with 7 lobes, late May-June. Distinctive large rounded leaves...
Rhododendron decorum 'Greeneye'
(FORTUNEA H4-5) Excellent scented trusses of pinky-white funnel-shaped flowers with a yellow green eye. May-June. A lovely flowering selection of this vigorous small tree. Height 175-200cm in 10 years. Prefers moist acid soils, but can tolerate neutral and drier positions.
This good flowering selection was made by the late John McQuire at his 'Deer Dell' garden, and features in his esteemed 'Pocket...
Rhododendron denudatum
Introduced in 1995 when collected for the first time by Ted Millais, this is a highly prized floriferous plant, with loose bell-shaped pale rose to wine red flowers. Flowering in May, it has beautiful yellow brown indumentum on the underside of its leaves and wonderful young foliage. Height 150-180cm in 10 years.A rare plant that will be of particular interest to collectors.
Recommended for beautiful...
Rhododendron fortunei discolor AGM
Wonderful large fragrant trusses of pinky white funnel shaped flowers in June-July. This is an excellent late season tall bushy growing plant with an upright habit. It performs best in partial shade to preserve the flowers from summer sunshine. A fast growing plant that flowers after 5 years. Height 180cm in 10 years.
Recommended for lovely late scented flower.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: sheltered...
Rhododendron haematodes
Wonderful scarlet crimson bell shaped flowers in a truss of 12 flowering in May. It has a distinctive dense rufous indumentum on the undersides of its leaves. Height 50-75cm in 10 years. Probably one of the best lower growing species plants that needs to be well established before it will flower. It does need good drainage and some shade. Try to avoid using too much fertilizer as this will scorch the...
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'
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. This irroratum Polka Dot clone is always one of the most striking flowers on the show benches at Rhododendron competitions. Height 125-150cm in 10 years.
Recommended for striking flowers.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: sheltered woodland.
Habit:...
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 parmulatum 'Ocelot'
(NERIIFLORA H4) Creamy yellow green flowers, lobes with a darker central band, and throat heavily spotted grey-purple. March - May. A selected clone from Tremeer garden, Cornwall. It has distinctive rugulose (wrinkled) leaves. Height 40-80cm in 10 years.
Recommended for early flower and excellent foliage.
Plantsman range.
Ideal position: needs careful site selection and good drainage.
Habit:...
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 sanguinium cloiophorum R10922
(NERIIFLORA H6) Crimson scarlet bell shaped flowers, with 5 nectar pouches, in trusses of 2-6 flowers. April-May. Calyx lobes usually deflexed. Leaves with thin white or fawn indumentum. Best in cool moist situations with good drainage. It dislikes most fertilizers, so best feed very lightly with slow release organic feed to prevent scorching. Height 25-50cm in 10 years. .
A slow growing plant, eventually...
Rhododendron serotinum
Fragrant white flowers flushed pink with a crimson blotch that will flower after about 5 years. It's not often that Rhododendrons flower this late in July to September, so it is best planted in some shade to preserve the blooms. A fast grower with wavy edges to the leaves. Height 180cm in 10 years.This species is thought to be a late-flowering form of R. decorum. The original seed was collected by...
Rhododendron suoilenhense (seedlings from AC 4458)
Picture of a 3 litre plant for illustrative purposes only
(GRANDIA H4-5) Recently collected from Vietnam. Creamy white campanulate flowers with maroon basal flashes, in a rounded truss, April. Large foliage with indumentum on older leaves. Early intoductions to the UK have produced tall, majestic and fast growing trees when grown in good conditions. Full hardiness is not confirmed yet, but it seems...
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 wasonii
Pretty yellow or pinky-white flowers with light spotting in April - May. This plant has ovate-lanceolate leaves with reddish brown indumentum on the lower surface. An attractive compact plant that is easy to grow. Height 40-60 cm in 10 years.
Recommended for excellent foliage.
Easy to grow.
Ideal position: most garden situations but it does need excellent drainage.
Habit: compact.
Group: Species...
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...