About
Cyclamen persicum 'Illusia' is a compact perennial bulb that loses its leaves seasonally. It features dark green leaves with a marbled pattern. From autumn through winter, it produces large, upside-down pink blooms that face upward, each adorned with a darker central eye and a contrasting beard around it.
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
- East-facing, South-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bulbs
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants
- 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
- Grow indoors in bright, filtered light, avoiding direct sunlight, in moist but well-drained compost. When watering, sit the cyclamen in a shallow tray of water, allowing it to absorb what it needs then allow to drain. Keep compost dry when dormant and avoid draughts or hot air. Apply a low nitrogen liquid feed fortnightly and deadhead any faded flowers to encourage more, removing the whole stem back to the base. See houseplant cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- Deadhead, removing the whole stem back to the base
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, in darkness as soon as ripe at 12 to 15°C. Can be beneficial to soak seed for 10 hours prior to sowing
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to Tarsonemus pallidus (cyclamen mite), mealybugs, thrips, fungus gnats and aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to cyclamen grey mould