Cyclamens are beautiful plants. The flowers hover above the
leaves like moths, on long wavy stems. The leaves are heart shaped and often
handsomely variegated. Most are dormant in summer. The florist’s cyclamen, “Cyclamen
Persicum” thrives out doors in places like California but is grown as a winter
blooming houseplant north of Zone 9. Its flower is as large as four inches
across and rather flamboyant in shades of pink red, lavender and white; often
they’re fringed or double. The plant books from late fall to early spring and
grows about a foot tall.
Several cyclamen species are hardy in the north. They’re
shorter four to five inches tall with pink, red or white flowers about an inch
across and marbled or mottled leaves. Many gardeners find them even more
charming than their more tropical relatives. C. coum blooms in early spring. C.
europaeum (C. purpurascens) and C. neapolitanum (C. hederifolium) are fall
blooming and fragrant. They’re all hardy to about Zone 5 but may survive
farther north with winter protection. I think they look best in an informal,
woodsy setting but only if they are not overshadowed by larger, bolder plants.
How to Grow Cyclamen
Cyclamens grow from corms and are planted while they are
dormant, usually in midsummer, about two inches deep and about a foot apart. (Plant
florist’s and cyclamens outdoors in fall in Zone 9 and 10). They like soil that
is rich and moist but not cold or wet. Give then part shade outdoors indoors;
give them indirect, bright light.
