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Bulbs

Cyclamen creticum

Cretan sowbread

A low-growing, tuberous perennial with heart-shaped, dark green leaves, spotted and marbled with silver on top and dark red underneath, sometimes toothed at the edges. Leaves appear in autumn and are full grown by the time flowers appear in early spring. Flowers are white, sometimes with a hint of pink in the throats, with reflexed petals up to 25mm long

Other common names

Cretan cyclamen

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Primulaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Cyclamen are tuberous perennials with rounded, sometimes angular, leaves which are often attractively mottled. The nodding, characteristically shaped flowers have 5 reflexed and twisted petals, often with dark markings at the base
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Crete

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a cool glasshouse or bulb-frame in a mix of equal parts loam, leaf mould, peat substitute and sharp sand. Plant with the tops of the tubers just at the surface. Provide bright, filtered light and moderate humidity. Water moderately when in growth but reduce humidity and water as the leaves fade. Keep completely dry when dormant. Apply a low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser every two months when in full leaf

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in darkness as soon as ripe. Can be beneficial to soak seed for 10 hours then rinse, prior to sowing

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to red spider mite, cyclamen mite and vine weevil when grown under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to cyclamen grey mould and powdery mildews when grown under glass

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