Plant of the Month: December

Cyclamen coum Common name: Eastern cyclamen Family:Primulaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: 5-8cm (2-3in) x 10cm (4in) Form:  Tuberous perennial Soil: Moderately fertile, humus rich, well drained. Aspect: Partial shade under trees or shrubs. Hardiness:   Frost hardy to -20°C (-4°F).

Cyclamen coum @ Wisley

Many different species of Cyclamen can be found throughout the Garden, especially within the Rock Garden, Alpine Meadow and Alpine Display House. The most impressive patch of Cyclamen coum is located beneath a large acer in the Rock Garden, and carpets the ground beneath in December.

Cyclamen

This genus of about 19 species of tuberous perennials is found in a variety of habitats from damp woodland to dry sands, primarily in the Mediterranean region, and extending east to Iran and south to Somalia.

The name Cyclamen comes from the Greek word "kylos" meaning circle, referring to the rounded tubers. They are regarded as a favourite food for swine in the South of France, Sicily and Italy.

Leaves are rounded to heart-shaped, sometimes toothed or lobed and often with silvery areas on dark green above and purplish-red below. Leaves of autumn flowering species last through winter to spring.

Flowers are nodding, sometimes fragrant, and have 5 reflexed, twisted petals. They are about 1-3 cm (0.5-1.25in) in length and their colour ranges from white through pink and magenta to carmine-red and often with darker "mouths". The flowers can be borne at any time of year, depending on the species. The flower-stalks coil onto the soil after flowering to release the ripe seeds in most species.

All parts of the plant may cause severe discomfort if ingested.

Cyclamen coum

This species is one of the hardiest. It is ideal for a leafy bank, under trees or shrubs, in rock gardens, or beneath sheltered walls. It looks best planted in drifts.

It is found growing naturally in Bulgaria, Caucasus, Turkey and Lebanon and is an extremely variable species, both in the wild and in cultivation, providing the gardener with a wide choice of forms and cultivars.

There is some argument over the origin of the specific epithet coum. One belief is that coum means "of the island of Kos (Cos)", an island in the Aegean Sea. However, C. coum is not found on Kos. Charles Hollidge in the Cyclamen Society Journal in 1989 says coum means "from Coa" the eastern region of Cilician where C. coum is plentiful.

Alternatively, the name may derive from the Greek word coum, meaning orbicular, describing the shape of the leaves, which are rounded, 2.5-6cm (1-2.5in) long, either shiny, dark green and unmarked or silvery with dark green patterns.

Flowers are 0.8-1.5cm (0.4-0.5in) long and vary in colour from white through pinks to carmine-red with dark carmine-red, white-rimmed mouths.

Leaves and flowers are produced at the same time in winter or early spring.

There are at least two subspecies

subsp. coum:

Leaves rounded to kidney-shaped, as long as wide or wider than long; petal lobes 0.8-1.4cm (0.3-0.6in) long, with white, occasionally very pale pink 'eyes'.
Leaves heart-shaped, longer than broad; petal lobes 1.2 - 2.5cm (0.5-1in) long, with pale to deep pink 'eyes', rarely white. Sub-divisions of this subspecies by colour have been named:

f. coum Flowers pink to magenta, with dark markings at the base of each petal lobe. The Pewter Group, which are variously marked silver with darker markings on the leaf, belong to this forma.

f. albissimum Flowers pure white without any markings

f. pallidum Flowers white or very pale pink, with a deep marking at the base of each petal lobe.

subsp. caucasicum

Pinkish lilac flowers 1.5cm (0.5in) long and heart-shaped silver-marked leaves with scalloped margins. Leaf lamina is never lobed, though often slightly toothed or scalloped; petal lobes 1.2-2cm (0.5-0.8in) long

AGM

The RHS Rock Garden Plants Subcommittee gave Cyclamen coum AGM an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a: Tuberous perennial to 10cm, with rounded leaves sometimes marbled with silver on the upper surface. Flowers 2cm wide, deep pink, with a purple blotch at the base of each lobe

The RHS Floral A and Joint Rock Committees Cyclamen coum subsp. coum f. coum Pewter Group AGM an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a: Tuberous perennial to 8cm tall, with rounded leaves predominantly silvery-green above, and rose-pink flowers marked with purple and white at the mouth.

Propagation

Cyclamen seed ripens in July, regardless of the species, and the best germination rates are achieved from fresh seed. Sow as soon as ripe in darkness at 6-12°C (43-45°F).

Stored seed can be sown from late winter to mid-spring to flower in autumn of the same year. The seed must be soaked in water for 10 hours or more and then rinsed thoroughly before sowing.