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Cyclamen Illusia wins Best Flowering Houseplant at HTA New Plant Awards
Unique, open-flowered cyclamen with massive flower power is unanimously voted Best Flowering Houseplant at the 2024 National Plant Show
A totally unprecedented plant, fresh from being crowned Japan’s Flower of the Year for 2023-24, has made its UK show debut to scoop another prestigious prize that recognises the most innovative and exceptional plant varieties introduced to the market within the last year.
Meet the cyclamen that stole the hearts of every judge at the HTA New Plant Awards to win Best Flowering Houseplant for 2024.
What’s the story behind Cyclamen Illusia?
Cyclamen Illusia was bred by Schoneveld, a Netherlands-based breeding company specialising in cold-loving houseplants. This groundbreaking cyclamen was the result of the dedication of Schoneveld breeder Sadrach Talahatu.“When developing Illusia, we focused on preserving the special characteristics offered by nature,” says Sadrach.
“At the same time, the basic qualities Schoneveld Breeding stands for obviously had to be reflected in the plant: rich flowering, long shelf life, compact round plant structure. I wanted to combine those qualities with the unique characteristics and beautiful details I had at my disposal.”
Sadrach and his team were immediately captivated by Illusia’s unique flower display. “Sometimes your ‘breeder’s eye’ sees something special, and you know it has immense potential,” says Talahatu.
“Anyone who saw Illusia for the first time was immediately amazed,” says Profitplant’s Stefan van der Dussen.
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© Olivia Drake![]()
What’s so special about Cyclamen Illusia?
Illusia is set apart from other cyclamen partly by the sheer volume of flowers produced on a compact plant, but most of all, by its totally unprecented open blooms that make it feel like the flowers are looking at you.© Horticultural Trades Association
© Olivia Drake
“The upside-down, upward-facing flower amazes everyone,” says Illusia’s breeder Sadrach. “And getting closer, the detail inside the flower stands out even more. The beard around the contrasting eye in the heart of the flower makes this a plant unlike any other.”
How was Cyclamen Illusia bred?
“We had a special characteristic on our hands with the unique flower shape,” explains Sadrach. “But then, we were only at the beginning of the breeding cycle. The whole process of selection, crossing and evaluation began.“The ultimate goal was to market an innovative, high-quality product. It was up to me to bring the right characteristics together and turn it into an F1 hybrid.”
In my work, you make use of the traits that are already there naturally. You then try to steer these in a certain direction with the aim of expressing only the desired characteristics. You must have a plan, look closely, see opportunities, and always make the most logical choices,” says Sadrach.
“At a certain point in that journey, the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place. We wanted a round, compact plant with sturdy stems, high flowering richness, long shelf life, and an open flower with lots of contrast and detail. A plant that really attracts attention, but also has all the practicalities to meet to the high standards expected in the industry. Those are quite a few requirements.”
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What did the judges think?
This year’s judging panel consisted of Emma Allen (RHS Head of Horticultural Relations), Andy Bunker (Alton Garden Centre), Cath Quinney (Bennybeg Plant Centre), Michael Perry (Mr Plant Geek) and Josh Egan-Wyer (Pershore College).© Schoneveld Breeding
Emma Allen says, “I’ve never seen a plant like it – such large inverted flowers, with bearded or double petals, and incredible flower power – a most exciting plant.”
Andy Bunker adds, “We look for uniqueness when judging the New Plant Awards. Personally I think the flower count on this is unique. It’s also a really unique flower, and a nice colour combination. It was an easy choice – it was everybody’s favourite.”
HTA Horticulture Manager Pippa Greenwood, who coordinated the judging, says: “This is a fantastic new plant, quite unlike any the judges had seen before. With serious impact and a definite ‘wow’ factor, I’m sure this will be a great success in garden centres and well-loved by the public too.”
How to grow Cyclamen Illusia
Illusia will thrive in a bright spot in the home, such as an east- or west-facing windowsill, but avoid positions that are in direct sun or above a heater.Keep the
Give Illusia a little liquid feed once a week.
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