Cyclamen persicum 'Illusia'

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Bulbs

A compact, very floriferous, deciduous perennial bulb with marbled, dark green foliage. Unusual, large, upside-down, upward-facing pink flowers with a darker eye and contrasting beard around the eye, appear from autumn to winter

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–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)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Primulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Tufted
Potentially harmful
Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Ornamental bulbsnot 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
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in bright, filtered light, avoiding direct sunlight, in moist but well-drained compost. When watering, sit the cyclamen in a shallow tray of water, allowing it to absorb what it needs then allow to drain. Keep compost dry when dormant and avoid draughts or hot air. Apply a low nitrogen liquid feed fortnightly and deadhead any faded flowers to encourage more, removing the whole stem back to the base. See houseplant cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, in darkness as soon as ripe at 12 to 15°C. Can be beneficial to soak seed for 10 hours prior to sowing

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants

Pruning

Deadhead, removing the whole stem back to the base

Pests

May be susceptible to Tarsonemus pallidus (cyclamen mite), mealybugs, thrips, fungus gnats and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to cyclamen grey mould