Cyclamen – garden centres are full of them before Christmas. They are cultivars of Cyclamen persicum (florists cyclamen) but these are not hardy plants. Popular from Victorian times as Christmas decorations, breeders have continually increased plant size, border range of flower size & colours and as a consequence less adaptable to outside conditions. Great indoors though.
Cyclamen are an ancient plant, used as ornamentals for 400 years and medicinally for 2000 years…..note/ the tubers are poisonous.
There are 23 species of true ‘hardy’ cyclamen and you can find one that flowers in any month of the year……from C. colchicum in summer, C. hederifolium in autumn through to Cyclamen coum in winter
Cyclamen coum (eastern cyclamen) is a true hardy species. Coum from KOO-um, connected to Kos.
- RHS named in top 200 plants in last 200 years.
- originating from eastern Mediterranean & Romania/Bulgaria, growing beneath trees & in rocky crevices. Evolved to suit cool wet winters and hot dry summers.
- Tuberous perennial (https://andythegardener.co.uk/corm-bulb-rhizome-tuber-difference/ for more details on tubers).Hardy down to -15C. Grows up to 10cm in diameter.
- Dormant in the summer, leaves emerge in late autumn, with 2cm flower spikes in January to March, ranging from purple through to white.
- Plant 5cm deep in humus rich soil in partial shade.Low maintenance. Doesn’t need deadheading.
Did you know – once fertilised, the flower spike curl up over drawing the ripening seed to the soil. Ants collect the seed to feast on the outer film (the aril) dropping the residue of the seed where it germinates. Over time you’ll find different hybrids emerging randomly over your garden. Dig up and pot on the ones you want to keep.