Millais Nursery

Millais Nurseries grow one of the widest ranges of Rhododendrons and Azaleas in the world, and have an unparalleled experience of the genus, and have achieved 5 consecutive RHS Gold medals at Chelsea. After many years of propagating for Exbury, in 2019 we helped the Rothschild family celebrate the centenary of Exbury Gardens with a stunning display based on Exbury plants and themes .This was delightfully filmed for BBC Gardener’s World.

Our Nurseries are tucked away down some lovely Surrey lanes, surrounded by 1,000 acres of National Trust heathlands with its abundant birdlife and wildlife, yet we are only an hour from London, or 30 minutes from RHS Wisley Gardens (M25 junction 10). You are welcome to visit our well stocked plant centre, or buy online from our website which is gathering more and more favourable reviews.

The Millais family has been established at Crosswater Farm since 1947, but our Rhododendron heritage goes back to the naturalist, botanist and author J G Millais, who identified and described many Rhododendrons for the first time, and published his great two volume series ‘Rhododendrons’ (1917 and 1924). Ted and Romy Millais started the nursery in 1970, and as septuagenarians they organized many exciting plant hunting trips to the Himalayas, and introduced several wonderful new species, some of which are offered here now.

In April 2024 the business was purchased by long term Nursery Manager Daniel and his partner Sarah, and we propagate around 35,000 Rhododendrons each year, by cuttings, grafts, seed and micropropagation. These are supplied to keen gardeners, large estates, botanic gardens, arboretums and specialist garden centres throughout England, Scotland and Wales (unfortunately not Europe after Brexit). No order is too small or too large for us to cope with, but please order rare plants as soon as they become available on the website, as the most sought after varieties do sell out!