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Breeders' talk: "Sapho allows us to concentrate on our passion"
Breeders' talk: "Sapho allows us to concentrate on our passion"
Posted in: Testimonies
2025-11-20

Testimony of Alexis and Liliane Le Duigou, passionate amateur gardeners - Les Jardins de Treuscoat

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Collectivity's talk: "Innovation is important for renewing our projects"
Collectivity's talk: "Innovation is important for renewing our projects"
Posted in: Testimonies
2025-10-24

Testimony of Anne Seznec, head of plant purchases for the city of Biarritz

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From selection to fame
From selection to fame
Posted in: Fondamentaux
2025-10-16

Once a variety has been selected and protected, a second phase begins in its development. How is it disseminated,...

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Why and how is a new variety protected?
Why and how is a new variety protected?
Posted in: Fondamentaux
2025-10-09

When you create a new variety, protecting it is a very important step, allowing you to have rights over your...

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Breeder's talk: "Protecting our varieties and co-constructing a distribution strategy"
Breeder's talk: "Protecting our varieties and co-constructing a distribution strategy"
Posted in: Testimonies
2025-10-02

Testimony of Claire Alix Barrault, director of Barrault Horticulture

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View all latest posts

Popular posts

Return of the elm to the tree heritage, source of biodiversity
Return of the elm to the tree heritage, source of biodiversity
Posted in: News about sapho varieties
2022-04-06
Return of the elm to the tree heritage, source of biodiversityThe elm, which was a major component of our landscapes,...
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Plants to feed bees and other pollinators
Plants to feed bees and other pollinators
Posted in: Plant palette
2022-06-29
Here are some ideas, principles and examples of plants to create a plant palette and a garden where bees and other...
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Chantilly Merit Award 2021 for Hydrangea macrophylla SO LONG® 'Starlit Sky
Chantilly Merit Award 2021 for Hydrangea macrophylla SO LONG® 'Starlit Sky
Posted in: News about sapho varieties
2021-11-01
During the Chantilly Plant Days on Saturday 10 October 2021, the Jury awarded the highest prize, the Prix du Mérite,...
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Clematis SAPHYRA® Nancy Earth Day® awarded by the SNHF
Clematis SAPHYRA® Nancy Earth Day® awarded by the SNHF
Posted in: News about sapho varieties
2021-06-21
The amazing clematis Nancy Jour de la Terre awarded by the S.N.H.F !
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Garten praxis - Mai 2021
Garten praxis - Mai 2021
Posted in: Press Review
2021-06-21
Read our article on the May 2021 issue of the German magazine Garten Praxis
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View all popular posts

Featured posts

Breeders' talk: "Sapho allows us to concentrate on our passion"
Breeders' talk: "Sapho allows us to concentrate on our passion"
Posted in: Testimonies
2025-11-20
Testimony of Alexis and Liliane Le Duigou, passionate amateur gardeners - Les Jardins de Treuscoat
Read more
Collectivity's talk: "Innovation is important for renewing our projects"
Collectivity's talk: "Innovation is important for renewing our projects"
Posted in: Testimonies
2025-10-24
Testimony of Anne Seznec, head of plant purchases for the city of Biarritz
Read more
From selection to fame
From selection to fame
Posted in: Fondamentaux
2025-10-16
Once a variety has been selected and protected, a second phase begins in its development. How is it disseminated,...
Read more
Why and how is a new variety protected?
Why and how is a new variety protected?
Posted in: Fondamentaux
2025-10-09
When you create a new variety, protecting it is a very important step, allowing you to have rights over your...
Read more
Breeder's talk: "Protecting our varieties and co-constructing a distribution strategy"
Breeder's talk: "Protecting our varieties and co-constructing a distribution strategy"
Posted in: Testimonies
2025-10-02
Testimony of Claire Alix Barrault, director of Barrault Horticulture
Read more
View all featured posts

SAPHO demonstration squares for IHC2022 in Angers

Posted on: 2022-08-04
 

The IHC 2022 International Horticultural Congress will be held in Angers, France, from August 14 to 20, 2022. This exceptional event takes place every 4 years, on a different continent, and brings together several thousand researchers from all over the world. This 2022 edition will also be open to non-research professionals in the horticultural sector. 

To mark the occasion, the city of Angers has decided to showcase the latest plant innovations by involving local players.  We were delighted to accept this invitation. In 6 squares at the Angers plant garden, you can discover some of the 300 SAPHO varieties in our catalog, some of which have become international best-sellers.

This area is open to visitors at the Jardin des Plantes d'Angers until autumn (including during the Salon du Végétal).

SAPHO, plant innovation with roots in Angers

In the early 1970s, research programs at INRAE* in Angers for new disease-resistant varieties (e.g. Pyracantha and fire blight) and for ornamental diversification (Forsysthia, Weigela, Clematis, etc.) led to the first selections. Some thirty French nurseries, including the major nurseries in Anjou, joined forces to ensure the multiplication and distribution of these new varieties. This partnership with research gave rise to SAPHO, Syndicat d'Amélioration des Plantes Horticoles Ornementales.

Today, SAPHO is a sarl associating 13 French nurseries, with headquarters in Beaufort en Anjou and offices in Ste Gemmes sur Loire.  Thanks to partnerships with some fifty breeders and agents in France, Europe, the United States, Japan, etc., the SAPHO catalog is growing every year and now includes almost 300 varieties.

* INRA now INRAE: Institut National de la Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement.

The “historic varieties” square

Selected by INRAE (FR)- 1974

Selected by INRAE/SAPHINOV (FR) - 2000

Selected by INRAE/SAPHINOV (FR) - 2004

Selected by INRAE/SAPHINOV (FR) - 2013

Also worth discovering: The revival of the elm in our landscapes, thanks to graphiosis-resistant selections:

- Ulmus minor VADA® 'Wanoux
- Ulmus LUTECE® 'Nanguen
- Ulmus RESISTA® 'Sapporo Gold

Research: INRAE Nancy and INRAE Angers (Fr) in collaboration with Alterra (NL) Publishing: Sapho

Read the article on our blog

To find out more about INRAE's plant breeding initiatives for the ornamental sector and the INRAE / SAPHO / SAPHIR / SAPHINOV partnerships, click here.

Visit INRAE's website

The 2 “Summer blooms” rectangles

Cameos of color in the garden

Bedding plant: summer flowering White, blue, violet monochrome

Selected by Nelly Panaget (FR) - 2019

Selected by Ernest TURC sas (FR) - 2017

Selected by Arnaud TRAVERS (FR) - 2018

Selected by INRAE/SAPHINOV (FR) - 202022

Selected by Boot & Co Boomkwekerijen (NL) - 2019

Selected by KOLSTER (NL) - 2021

Selected by Lagerstroemia sarl (FR) - 2011

Selected by Barrault Horticulture sarl (FR) - 2014

Massif: Summer bloom, white, pink, red camaïeu

Selected by INRAE/SAPHINOV (FR) - 2014

Selected by James BERRY (USA) - 2019

Selected by Boot & Co Boomkwekerijen (NL) - 2019

Selected by Alain DABADIE (FR) - 2022

Selected by HYFRYD PLANTS (UK) - 2019

Selected by KOLSTER (NL) - 2021

Selected by Catherine BARNABE (FR) - 2010

Selected by Jean Pierre FAURE (FR) - 2015

The 2 “shape, foliage, original graphics” squares

They attract the eye, structure the garden, surprise ...  

Plant diversity is infinite. The pleasure of gardening is also to be amazed, to marvel, to find shapes, colors and fragrances that will renew interest in the garden.

To be included in the SAPHO catalog, these varieties must also be “good natured plants”, i.e. plants that are easy to grow, easy to maintain, suited to the intended use (small gardens, ground cover, etc.) and resistant (e.g. to the sun for golden foliage).

Here are a few examples planted in the jardin des plantes squares for the IHC 2022. Feel free to dive into the SAPHO catalog to discover all our varieties.

Selected by Alain DABADIE (FR) - 2016

Selected by Johann MUSTER (CH) - 2011

Selected by Richard E. DAVIS (USA) - 2014

Selected by Henri BREGEON (CH) - 2000

Selected by Liss Forest Nursery (UK) - 2017

Selected by Albert BRENELIERE (FR) - 2015

Selected by Floribreed V.O.F. (NL) - 2013

Selected by Rachelle FYFE (NZ) - 2008

The “fruit and decorative garden” square

For a beautiful, tasty garden!

In the SAPHO ranges, you'll also find small fruit varieties selected for their fruit-bearing character and taste qualities.
Beware, an intruder has crept under the bed ;-) Clematis cannot be eaten! It is, however, highly decorative. Here it is presented on a climbing support. It can also be left free-standing.

Selected by Jan DE BEOR (NL) - 2018

Selected by Steve YANDALL (UK) - 2019

Selected by INRAE/SAPHINOV - 2020

Decorative only

SAPHO, an original profession at the heart of the plant industry

Publisher of varietal innovations for the garden, landscape and city

It may be useful to remember that SAPHO does not produce or sell plants. Our role in the world of plants is that of a publisher, comparable to that of a publisher in the world of books. Our missions are :

- To select, in partnership with breeders and nurserymen, new varieties that will be innovative and sustainable plants, “good natured plants”: aesthetic, generous, original and also resistant, easy to grow and maintain, adapted to market needs and agronomic requirements.

- To ensure the promotion and development of the varieties created, so that they are multiplied by licensed nurseries, known, cultivated and used by the entire industry, in France, Europe and worldwide.

If you are a plant breeder, don't hesitate to contact us. We can help you develop and protect your creations.

Meet us at the Salon du Végétal in Angers from September 13 to 15, 2022

We look forward to welcoming you to our Grand Palais stand No. 101.

We'll also be hosting a mini-conference in the FORUM Coeur du Végétal area, on Thursday September 15 from 2.15pm to 2.45pm.

More informations
 
Posted in: Our news

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