Unique blue Super Serie Dragon adds value across the chain
Schoneveld Breeding has been the leading Cyclamen breeder for decades. Usually, the focus is on improving existing varieties, but sometimes nature surprises you. Almost ten years ago, the first blue F1 Cyclamen came into existence. A stunning colour, but its performance still needed significant work. That work has now been done, successfully. Schoneveld Breeding proudly introduces Super Serie Dragon, the world’s first blue F1 Cyclamen.
“People thought it wasn’t possible,” laughs Gianfranco de Leo, regional manager for Southern Europe. And it wasn’t an unreasonable thought, no one had ever managed to develop a blue F1 Cyclamen before. Also one that meets the Super Serie standards of a round plant shape, full flowering and abundant foliage. “We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved.”
From mutation to market favourite
It all began with a natural plant mutation. Gianfranco vividly remembers the first Dragon he saw: “A beautiful plant, but its performance was terrible. ”Nevertheless, the breeders went to work They combined the unique colour with the reliability for which Schoneveld Breeding is know for.
Today, Super Serie Dragon is a reality: a truly unique blue Cyclamen, spectacular particularly in outdoor displays. Growing support specialist Herbert van Gijtenbeek shares Gianfranco’s enthusiasm and sees it also at growers: “They saw the photos and wanted to order immediately.” The excitement reached its peak during last year’s Schoneveld Open Days. “The colour is hard to capture in a photo. You really need to see it with your own eyes to understand just how spectacular Dragon is.”
Award-winning innovation
Dragon has already won awards at international shows in the UK and Japan. “That gave a massive boost,” says Gianfranco. “People shared photos across social media, incredible promotion!” Because of that buzz, demand is exceeding all expectations. “We knew we had something special,” Herbert explains. “But we didn’t anticipate just how high the demand would be.”
The blue Collection
Super Serie Dragon is launched as part of a series: the Blue Collection. Schoneveld Breeding introduces two colours simultaneously: Dragon Blue and Dragon Deep Blue. “We position Dragon separately from other Cyclamen. In garden centres, it has its own space to maximise the wow-factor,” Gianfranco explains. “That encourages consumers to buy multiple plants, benefiting everyone across the chain.”
Cultivation
For growers, Dragon is as reliable as other Super Serie Cyclamen, with one key difference: timing. “Dragon blooms a week to ten days later than Super Serie Verano,” Herbert explains. “And Dragon Blue flowers about a week earlier than Deep Blue.”
Maintaining colour intensity requires careful cultivation timing. In cooler regions, Dragon performs best from mid-September; in warmer areas, from early October. “Higher temperatures and stronger light can sometimes reduce the colour intensity,” Herbert notes.
Dragon is marketed as a novelty with the goal of creating added value for all chain partners. “Our slogan is Plant More Value,” Herbert says. “Ninety percent of what we do is standard product improvement. Developing Super Serie Dragon is tangible, visible work, a true innovation that meets market demand. It brings added value, and the entire chain benefits from that.”
Looking Ahead
The future for Super Serie Dragon is bright. “Global demand is very high,” Gianfranco observes. “With more colours, we can sustain that demand.” Herbert teases what’s next: “We’re working on Dragon Blue Eye, another truly unique variety that we hope will surprise the market once again.”