The 2025 Morel Flowers Trials took place this past October and November at John Mostert’s facilities, officially opening on October 21 and welcoming industry professionals until November 7. For three weeks, visitors explored a unique Northern-climate showcase of Morel’s latest innovations in Cyclamen and Hellebores breeding.
Throughout the event, Eric Forchelen, Stéphane Lemoine, and the entire Morel team welcomed growers, distributors, and partners with enthusiasm. As Héloïse Morel explains: “Holding our Trials in the Netherlands gives professionals a different perspective. It allows them to see how our genetics behave under Northern-European conditions, something extremely valuable for production planning and retail strategies.”
This edition drew a remarkable number of international visitors, confirming the growing interest in Morel’s breeding programs and marking one of the most dynamic Trials to date.
Spread across 2,500 m² of greenhouse space, the display featured more than 300 Cyclamen persicum F1 varieties, offering a comprehensive vision of Morel’s creativity and selection work.
Cyclamen persicum highlights
1. New MACARON® Series – North & South Mixes
A major evolution of the Smartiz line, MACARON® stands out with perfect uniformity, compact growth, smaller foliage, strong heat tolerance, and adaptability to diverse conditions.
As Héloïse notes:
“MACARON® embodies what growers expect today: reliability, neat forms, and colors that shine both in production and at retail. It’s a series designed for efficiency without compromising elegance.”
Already validated by Dutch and Italian growers, MACARON® flowers early from late summer.
2. New colors in the METIS® series
Three new tones expanded the METIS® range:
- METIS® Red (100293): glossy, vigorous red with excellent roundness and perfect synchronization.
- METIS® Coral: bright orange with white edging.
- METIS® Lilac: a luminous pastel ideal for shaded or indoor environments.
“Mini Cyclamen remain a key segment for many growers,” adds Héloïse. “Each new METIS® color is carefully selected to offer visual precision, strong uniformity, and a clear retail identity.”
3. Victoria: The star of the trials
Victoria types drew strong attention this year, with several promising novelties:
- SMARTIZ® 6702 Victoria: compact and beautifully crowned.
- MIDI+® Victoria Salmon (Pre-intro): early and highly uniform.
- ABSOLU®: a brand-new fragrant large-flowered Victoria.
- METIS® Victoria Salmon (Pre-intro): an upgraded mini Victoria.
“Victoria flowers always spark emotion,” shares Héloïse. “They embody delicacy and tradition, but our goal is to modernize them with better habits, earlier flowering, and stronger performance.”
4. INDIAKA® innovations: a world first
Morel, creator of the distinctive Indiaka® pattern, introduced two major innovations:
- MIDI+® Indiaka Red: bold, mid-sized, and intensely contrasted.
- New Mini Indiaka Series: the first mini Indiaka Cyclamens on the market, bringing the signature white base and vivid upper tone to compact plants.
According to Héloïse: “Indiaka® changed the way consumers perceive bicolor Cyclamen. Extending this identity into new plant sizes helps retailers build unique, eye-catching assortments.”
5. Pre-Introductions to watch
Two promising selections stood out:
- CLOCHETTE ®: original and visually distinctive.
- ROSY GLOW®: soft pink-white “sakura” tones with dark foliage and high contrast.
“Pre-introductions give visitors a glimpse of the future,” explains Héloïse. “They spark discussion, inspire growers, and help guide the final refinements before market launch.”
Expanding the range of botanical cyclamen
Morel continues to strengthen its botanical offering, ideal for landscaping and naturalized environments.
- Cyclamen hederifolium LIFY ® (7 varieties). Hardy to –15°C, self-seeding, flowering August–November.
- Cyclamen coum (16 varieties) KOUMY ®. Hardy to –20°C, flowering November–March, with diverse foliage and compact blooms.
Héloïse emphasizes: “Botanical Cyclamen answer a growing demand for resilient, low-maintenance plants. Their seasonal rhythm and natural charm resonate strongly with gardeners and landscapers.”
A beautiful collection of Helleborus
In collaboration with breeder Aad Koen, Morel presented a refined assortment of Hellebores:
- Helleborus niger SNOYA ®: early white blooms from November.
- Helleborus orientalis GROOVE ®: compact, uniform, and available in a rich palette of forms.
- Botanical Helleborus: lividus, foetidus, sternii, argutifolius.
“The elegance of Hellebores makes them a natural complement to our winter assortment,” says Héloïse. “Their diversity allows growers to craft premium displays with real storytelling potential at retail.”
A unique invitation to explore
The Morel Trials at John Mostert’s in the Netherlands once again offered horticultural professionals a privileged opportunity to discover cutting-edge breeding, bold color innovations, and market-ready introductions.
As Héloïse concludes: “Innovation only matters when it brings real value to growers. Our Trials are the moment where ideas, genetics, and customer feedback come together and that’s what drives our work forward.”
Morel reaffirms its leadership in Cyclamen genetics and its long-term commitment to quality, creativity, and sustainable horticulture.
