The horticulture and floriculture world gears up for IPM Essen 2025, and like many others in these industries, French breeding company Morel, whose rich history spans over a century, is expected to charm visitors at the fair with their varieties. Scheduled for January 28 to 31, 2025 at Messe Essen, the fair is all about showcasing the latest in horticulture. Over 1,400 exhibitors from about fifty countries will showcase their latest products, services, and innovations—from plants and technology to floristry and equipment—and up to 36,000 visitors from around the globe are expected to attend.
In booth 2A37 located in Hall 2, at the 'Choose France' pavilion, Morel, a hybrid Cyclamen specialist, is not only expected to showcase its already known innovative floral offerings but also introduce new and exciting varieties including the Cyclamen persicum Macaron® series, Cyclamen hederifolium, Cyclamen coum, and their stunning range of Helleborus, in an event whose theme this year emphasizes on the motto: 'Endless Green Variety'. This time around, Morel is all about a return to nature; emphasizing natural colors and plants and flowers that resonate with the beauty of the outdoors.
Morel’s Innovations and Trends for Mini-Size Cyclamen
Morel has a rich history of breeding that reflects the ever-evolving trends in plant cultivation. Historically, their focus was on larger plants, resulting in a robust portfolio of Maxi Cyclamen, where the breeder remains a leader. However, with changing consumer preferences and a growing interest in compact plants, the breeder successfully adapted their strategy to include miniature varieties that cater to modern gardening needs.
The introduction of mini Cyclamen in the 1970s marked a key turning point in the industry as these compact plants, characterized by their numerous small flowers and unique shapes, quickly gained popularity. They have remained a staple in gardens and homes due to numerous reasons like space efficiency as urban living spaces become smaller, making mini and micro plants ideal for apartments and limited outdoor areas. These miniature varieties are, also, generally more affordable for consumers, thus accessible to more clientele, and for growers, they allow for denser planting in greenhouses, thus shorter cultivation times and increased profitability.
So, in the 1990s, Morel recognized this trend and began developing mini Cyclamen. The launch of the Metis® series in 1998 marked their first foray into this category, followed by the successful Smartiz® series. At IPM 2025, Morel will unveil their latest innovation, the Macaron® series, a new line that features seven fantastic colors and two mixes, distinguished by their compactness, abundance of small leaves, and synchronized blooming patterns.
In addition to their miniature Cyclamen offerings, Morel will, also, present a new range of botanical Cyclamen known for their exceptional hardiness and frost resistance, as well as Hellebores. These innovative varieties align with the breeder’s environmental responsibility and promotion of sustainable practices.
Experience the Delicate Charm of Morel’s Botanical Cyclamens and Hellebores at the IPM 2025
Morel blends innovation with sustainability in plant breeding. The company's approach highlights its reverence for nature, focusing on delivering varieties that not only thrive in diverse environments but also celebrate nature while enhancing the natural beauty of gardens and landscapes. Plus, their successful collaboration with Kwekerij Koen has allowed the breeder to enrich their collection with outstanding new species whose unique potential you can experience at their stand during the IPM 2025.
Working together has been a fruitful collaboration for research and production of new species.
Eric Baude says:
“The recent acquisition of Kwekerij Koen has enabled us to take our approach to create varieties a step further, developing new Cyclamen varieties that are more resilient to extreme climatic conditions, while being more economical in terms of water and fertilizer use throughout their production cycle."
At the fair, Morel’s participation aligns perfectly with the innovation with sustainability causes. Its showcase celebrates the beauty of natural colors and varieties. And, the latest floral offerings it presents are designed to appeal to both commercial growers and gardening enthusiasts who seek plants that are not only visually appealing but also environmentally friendly. This paves the way for more sustainable gardening practices.
Morel:
“Building on our expertise in F1 hybrid selections, we are proud to introduce a new range of botanical Cyclamen known for their exceptional hardiness and frost resistance. These innovative varieties perfectly align with our commitment to social and environmental responsibility. They promote sustainable practices through reduced water and fertilizer consumption, offering a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution.”
So, alongside their other varieties, you can expect a range of their newer ones. Here we go:
Cyclamen Hederifolium
Also known as the ivy-leaved Cyclamen or sowbread in general contexts, Cyclamen hederifolium is a true charmer. It is a perennial gem that embodies the essence of resilience and beauty in nature. It, therefore, is a favorite among gardeners, known for its charming flowers. This species typically bursts into bloom from August to September, even before its distinctively beautiful ivy-like leaves emerge. It, thus, can grace gardens from late summer into early autumn, providing color to the garden when many other plants are fading.
The hardy Cyclamen hederifolium species thrives in shaded areas, thus perfectly ideal for naturalizing under trees or in shady borders as well as in containers on a terrace. It, also, has an acclimatizing potential, with a unique ability to spread over time creating a stunning carpet of blooms that can transform any garden space with its evergreen foliage and vibrant winter blooms. These offer the much-needed color when most plants seem dull and dormant.
At Morel's booth, during the 2025 IPM Essen, you will learn more about this variety including its potting period which spans from mid-April to mid-June, as well as the flowering and sales window which runs from September to November offering gardeners its stunning blooms during the cooler months. Morel provides different expressions of this delightful plant. These include the Classic Leaf which features elegant white, purple, pink, and pink flowers, and the Platinum Leaf which showcases a unique aesthetic with pink, light pink, and white varieties. These selections not only provide visual appeal but also enhance a garden's ecological balance by attracting pollinators.
Cyclamen Coum
Another highlight from Morel’s collection is Cyclamen coum, a beauty known for its delightful winter blooms. This early spring bloomer with heart-shaped, glossy leaves and small, showy flowers in shades of white to rosy purple generally adds weeks of cheerful color to gardens during late winter and early spring. It typically flowers from November through April, depending on climatic conditions.
The variety forms a stunning carpet of round blooms and leaves, creating a natural botanical look that enhances cold-weather gardens by infusing them with a natural botanical look perfect for cold-weather gardens. Its ability to flower from November through April makes it ideal for gardeners seeking color during the winter months.
Essentially, Cyclamen coum, quite unlike many plants that retreat during winter months, offers vibrant flowers even in the coldest seasons, has a leaf structure that features round leaves that provide an attractive backdrop for its flowers enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of gardens, and presents versatile planting options, as it can be used effectively in borders or as ground cover.
Helleborus
Complementing the Cyclamen varieties, Morel is, also, expected to present its exceptional Helleborus collection whose Hellebores are a perennial gem bringing vibrancy and life to the garden even in the coldest and harshest months. At the 2025 IM Essen, you’ll therefore be enchanted by the breeder’s pure white blooms of the Helleborus niger, the ‘Christmas Rose,’ which delights from October to December with its elegant appearance that makes it a favorite for holiday displays and winter gardens.
Also on showcase will be Helleborus orientalis which blooms from January to February. This species offers a range of colors including spotted whites and yellows, rich reds and purples, and many others. The double varieties add an extra layer of visual interest. Adding to these are hybrid and botanical species like Argutifolius, Foetidus, Lividus, and Sternii, which provide unique textures, evergreen foliage, and unmatched resilience. These Hellebores from Morel have many advantages. They are, for instance, known for their hardiness and low maintenance. They thrive in shaded areas and are perfect for gardeners looking for beautiful yet easy-to-care-for plants. They also offer year-round interest with their evergreen foliage and winter and spring blooms with vibrant colors, providing continuous interest throughout the seasons.
Morel’s Journey of Plant Breeding
Creating a new hybrid is not an overnight project; it typically takes 10 to 15 years of dedicated research to develop market-ready hybrids, in an extensive process that involves building parent lines and ensuring that the resulting plants are homogeneous and commercially viable. Morel’s keenness on quality and innovation is, therefore, evident in their every new release.
Their participation at the IPM 2025 is, therefore, not just about showcasing new varieties, but also their wider focus on sustainability in horticulture. A visit to Morel’s booth 2A37 in Hall 2, at Messe Essen will, therefore, give you insights into their strategies that align with the floral sustainability trend.
