About
This perennial plant, characterized by its tuberous roots, blooms in autumn and reaches a height of up to 10 cm. Its leaves, shaped like ivy, display a marbled pattern of silvery-green hues. The pure white flowers, featuring reflexed petals, emerge alongside or just before the foliage, which creates a lush carpet before it dies back during the summer months.
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
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bulbs, Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Matforming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants, Gravel garden, Rock garden
- Native to
- Greek Islands, SW 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
- Plant near the surface in moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Avoid excessive summer moisture and mulch well when leaves wither. Tolerates dry soil under trees. See hardy cyclamen cultivation
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- Mice and squirrels may be a problem; vine weevil can attack pot-grown plants
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to cyclamen grey mould, particularly when grown under glass