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Fearless flowers: Cyclamen coum 

This cyclamen is cute, small and dainty but it’s also tough and can have a fantastic impact in the winter garden, says plantsman Graham Rice

Sparkling in winter and associating beautifully with hellebores and snowdrops, the dainty but robust flowers of Cyclamen coum come in a wonderful range of colours. They range from deep magenta-pink, through softer pinks to pure white and with some irresistible bicolours. What’s more, this is a genuinely hardy and reliable plant that will increase in number year on year. 

The leathery, kidney-shaped foliage also varies enormously from deep lustrous green to completely silver with many pretty patterns in between, such as Pewter Group. There’s a huge variety of flower and foliage combinations.

Flower colour varies from rich magenta to pure white
This cyclamen has very variable leaf patterns too

Plants for free

Over time, Cyclamen coum will self sow, making delightful carpets of leaves and flowers. Generally the individual flowers don’t self-pollinate as the pollen in each flower ripens well before the stigma is receptive. Bees are the most common pollinators. For faster results, it’s best to start with at least two plants to create the best opportunity for successful

pollination and the appearance of self-sown seedlings in the garden.

So, when you see a cyclamen for sale that you especially like, buy two plants as near identical as possible. When they cross, the resulting seedlings are most likely to be similar. Dig up any seedlings that are different and give them away. Or, if you prefer a tapestry of different colours and leaf patterns, buy two distinctly different plants. And don’t be surprised if seedlings appear in unexpected places, such as in cracks in paving or halfway up shady walls.

Over time, unique new forms can appear in your garden as plants seed themselves around

Clever seed disposal

The sticky seed coats attract ants that carry the seeds away from the parent plants
As the seedpods ripen, the stems curl up to bring the pods down to ground level. The seeds are then dispersed by ants and other wildlife such as woodlice, which eat the sticky seed coats but ignore the seeds. So wherever our many-legged garden neighbours leave the seeds – that’s where they’ll germinate!

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