Growing Cyclamen: Tips at a Glance
- Type Flowering tuber
- Life Span Perennial
- USDA Zones 5-11
- Light Dappled shade
- Water Well-drained soil
- Where to Plant Cool, humid spot
- Design Tip Rock gardens
- Flowers White, red, pink, purple
- Peak Season Varies by species
Cyclamen: A Field Guide
Cyclamen’s tonal blooms and velvety, patterned foliage look as right in an autumn woodland as on a holiday mantel. But look closely when choosing: flowering times vary widely depending on the species.
Cyclamen come in both hardy and tender species. C. coum, the most popular spring variety, blooms very early while C. hederifolium puts on a show in autumn. Try planting C. hederifolium at the base of trees, since it needs dryness during dormancy. C. purpurascens is known for its fragrance. Floristss cyclamen are cultivars of C. persicum and fall ill in overheated, under-lit interiors, so it pays to rotate them to cool, bright areas during their lives indoors.