About
Cyclamen graecum is a perennial plant that grows from a corm and features elongated, fleshy roots. Its leaves are heart-shaped, deep green, and often display silver and light green markings. In autumn, before the leaves emerge, this species produces flowers that range in color from light to dark pink, each petal adorned with a magenta patch at its base.
About the genus
Cyclamen are perennial plants that grow from tubers and feature rounded or occasionally angular foliage, frequently displaying appealing mottled patterns. Their flowers, which are nodding and distinctive in shape, consist of five petals that are reflexed and twisted, often exhibiting dark markings near the base.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Alpine Rockery, Bulbs
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0-0.1 metre
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants, Rock garden
- Native to
- Greece, Cyprus, Turkey
- Toxicity
- Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Best grown in an unheated greenhouse in bright, filtered light. Use a container deep enough for the fleshy roots, planting the tubers just at the surface in a mix of equal parts loam, leaf mould, peat substitute and sharp sand
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, sown in darkness as soon as ripe. Can be beneficial to soak seed for 10 hours prior to sowing
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to cyclamen mite, glasshouse red spider mite, mice and vine weevil
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to cyclamen grey mould, particularly when grown under glass