CYCLAMEN. Europe, the Middle East and Africa. I have enjoyed the company of the hardy cyclamens for many years at home but found it difficult to offer regular crops of them due to the difficulty of timing collection of seeds (they are gobbled up by mice and other animals almost as soon as the pods are ripe). Now, thanks to the kindness of Wayne Roderick, we can at least offer small numbers of them for a while. These are perennial plants of the primrose family, growing from long-lived tubers. They have crowns of usually long-stalked, round to heart-shaped basal leaves. These are often patterned with white or silver on the upper surface and tinged with red or purple beneath. The flowering stems are produced separately from the tubers, each carrying one beautiful nodding, often fragrant blossom with five broad, swept-back petals. The flowers of some species are delightfully fragrant. Some will tolerate full sun near the coast. However all are most at home in light shade, where they will self-seed and naturalize over time. They are also fine subjects for large pots. It is best, and in some cases essential, to let them go dry when dormant–which is nearly always in summer, making it possible to plant them under oaks and in other untended spots. They need well drained soil and moisture during the growing season, which usually coincides with our rains. Their hardiness varies widely.
coum. Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This is a winter- and spring-blooming species, often under 6" high. It has round to kidney-shaped leaves, 1-2" broad, usually dark green overall, with or without lighter markings. The flowers are carried on stems up to 6" high. They are usually a little under an inch long and colored pink to reddish purple. It is one of the hardiest of the cyclamen, enduring temperatures of around 0oF.
graecum. Greece and Turkey. This became my favorite of the group on first acquaintance, a few years ago. It has broad leaves, with angled lobes in this form, held close to the ground. They are beautifully and quite variably patterned with silver-grey on the upper surface. The flowers are about 1" long, pink to white with darker base and delightfully fragrant. It is one of the more tender species but should still take bouts of around 20oF.
hederifolium. Mediterranean region. If you know any but the florist’s cyclamen (hybrids of C. persicum), it will probably be this one, since the tubers are sometimes available on the fall bulb market. It often flowers from the bare tubers in fall, carrying 3/4"-1", usually pink and sweetly fragrant flowers on 3-6" stems. Then come leaves in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and color patterns, sometimes lying nearly flat on the ground. Nearly all are beautiful. This is one of the best species for naturalizing, and hardy to about 0oF.
persicum. Iran to northern Africa. This is the ancestor of the florist’s cyclamen. Sadly some of its best features have been lost in the process of creating larger, more vividly colored flowers and more controllable growth. In this material, which includes collections from northern Africa, the plants are of quite variable size, though usually 8" or less in height. The leaves are large and heart-shaped, with a wonderful variety of markings; some are silvery nearly throughout. The flowers are up to 2" long, in this material mostly white or light pink with purplish red centers, and delightfully fragrant. Its only drawback is its tenderness to cold. These plants should be protected at temperatures below 25oF., though they will endure a little less.