Super Serie Dragon: from chance discovery to unique Blue Collection Cyclamen
What started as a spontaneous mutation in a Super Serie Carino Cyclamen crop has evolved into an entirely new series. Stijn Megens, breeder at Schoneveld Breeding, shares the story behind the development of Super Serie Dragon. He calls it “a gift from nature.” After years of intensive breeding, he now proudly presents the remarkable Blue Collection.
It all began back in 2016, when a crop supporter at Schoneveld Breeding received a Cyclamen from a grower. The plant had the “wrong” colour – a bluish hue. It had been discarded by the grower, but when Stijn got his hands on it, he immediately saw the potential. “We were lucky the grower kept it aside. One plant can truly make all the difference.”
Super Serie Dragon: Blue Collection
That one plant became the foundation for the brand-new Super Serie Dragon, marking the beginning of what is now known as the Blue Collection. “I let the plant self-pollinate, then began crossing it with our existing parent lines,” explains Stijn. From there, he continued selecting for the distinctive Super Serie traits: compact, full plant habit, abundant flowering, and strong flower stems – always keeping an eye on the right colour.
“We now have two colours,” Stijn shares enthusiastically. “During breeding, you constantly discover new variations in your lines – that’s what makes the work so exciting.” The first colour he developed was Blue, featuring soft blue flowers. Later, a deeper hue emerged, giving rise to the Deep Blue Cyclamen. One of the main challenges during breeding was ensuring a clear distinction between the two colours.
Although both colours are now ready for market introduction, Stijn remains focused on fine-tuning the series. “I want to bring the flowering speed of Blue and Deep Blue more in line with one another. Our Cyclamen are known for their uniformity across and within colours – and I believe the Blue Collection can still improve on that front.”
Technical Challenges
For Stijn, the breeding journey was filled with technical hurdles. “The most difficult part was developing pure parent lines. Getting the flowering speed right also gave us a bit of a headache.” The first hybrids Stijn created were slow to flower and too small in size. The challenge was to find faster-growing genetics with better vigour. “We eventually found the right combination – but it wasn’t easy,” he admits.
Dragon is suitable for all climates, and the feedback from growers trialling Dragon has been positive so far. “For growers, it’s a valuable addition to their Cyclamen assortment. For consumers, it’s a product they’ve never seen before. Developing something as unique as Dragon – that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
Ambitions and future plans
For growers, Dragon ticks all the boxes: easy to grow and a one-of-a-kind addition to the existing range. “Temperature and light intensity can sometimes influence the colour, so I’m also working on developing even more intense shades,” says Stijn. His ambitions don’t stop there – more colours and other sizes are already in the pipeline. “These mini Cyclamen persicum aren’t just an extension of what’s already available – they truly stand on their own. I’m incredibly proud of this series.”