The best species of this popular genus bring colour to winter and early-spring gardens.
There are about 20 species of cyclamen, originating from regions around the Mediterranean Sea. About half are hardy enough to survive outdoors in favoured sites in milder areas of Britain. Flower colour is mainly shades of pink, magenta or white, but the leaves are often attractively marbled. Most species have evolved to survive dry Mediterranean summers by staying dormant, growing from autumn to spring.
Choosing cyclamen
Avoid purchasing dried tubers in autumn as many of these are still wild-dug. Specialists supply pot-grown or damp-packed, seed-grown stock.
In the garden cyclamen can be planted in any well-drained soil that is not markedly acidic. Most do well planted no more than 3cm (1in) deep at the base of a sunny wall or in light dappled shade, sheltered from the wind. Plant Cyclamen repandum deeper at 5-7cm (2-2.5in). In pots, a mix of multipurpose compost and John Innes No 3 with some added grit is ideal.
Species for the garden
Cyclamen hederifolium AGM (Award of Garden Merit) is easy to grow, flowering usually from August, the flowers generally appearing before the attractively marked, ivy-shaped leaves. Flower colours include purple, pink and white. Readily self-seeds and spreads.
Cyclamen coum AGM flowers later than C. hederifolium, in mid-winter with typically dark green, more circular or heart-shaped leaves. Attractively shiny, ‘pewter-leaved’ named selections are available.
Cyclamen repandum is spring flowering and shade loving with marbled leaves and magenta flowers, but is not fully hardy.
Cyclamen purpurascens AGM is a woodland species for a shaded spot, flowering as early as July.
Less-hardy species worth trying outdoors in mild spots include autumn-flowering C. cilicium AGM (best in light shade), C. intaminatum and C. mirabile AGM. A winter-flowering choice for shade is C. parviflorum.