I admire Cyclamen more and more as the years go by.

I am currently in awe of the indoor cyclamen that my wife obtained around Christmas time. The volume of strongly coloured flowers has been phenomenal on the Persian cyclamen. We have stopped watering them expecting them to rest through summer but in one case the plants have been reinvigorated.

Cyclamen coum are hardy plants. The Persian varieties will not withstand frost.
I lay the pots on their sides so the plant can die back slowly.

In late autumn I bring them back into the light and give them a gentle watering and light feed. Hopefully I will then get a new showing of these super flowers.

Keep regularly watered whist in growth. I find it better to water from the bottom to prevent the corm from rotting.

There are now 22 recognised species of Cyclamen. It is said that at least one variety is in bloom for every month of the year.
Cyclamen grow in a range of areas and environments from beech woodland, alpine meadows and windowsills through scrub and rocky areas. This tuberous family of plants are predominantly from North Africa, Turkey and Mediterranean areas.

Top Cyclamen Species

C. balearicum
C. colchicum
C. graecum
C. africanum


C. cilicium
C. colchicum
C. coum
C. creticum
C. cyprium
C. hederifolium
C. intaminatum
C. libanoticum
C. mirabile

C. parviflorum
C. persicum
C. pseudibericum
C. purpurascens
C. purpurascens

C. repandum
C. rohlfsianum
C. somalense
C. trochopteranthum

If you are interested in studying further the Cyclamen Society has a good web site

Or an authoritative text Cyclamen: A Guide for Gardeners, Horticulturists and Botanists by Chris Grey-Wilson