Cyclamen hederifolium

About this cultivar:

Cyclamen hederifolium, who could not help but love these delightful little cormous perennials? From the tops of these grey, pumpkin-shaped corms, which sit just below ground level, emerge the striking green and silver mottled foliage in early October, making 6-12 inch wide mounds. Starting in July and continuing through October, just prior to the emerging foliage, the tiny pink or white flowers poke through the ground. By late spring, the foliage dies down sleeps for the summer. Named as one of the RHS top 200 plants of the last 200 years! Similar to Cyclamen coum but flowers in July, August, September, October instead of December, January, February, March.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: July, August, September, October
• Other features: Grows well in Ballyrobert, Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM)
• Hardiness: Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
• Habit: Tufted
• Foliage: Deciduous
• Height: 0 - 10 cm (0 - 0.3 ft)
• Spread: 0 - 10 cm (0 - 0.3 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: Green, white, pink
• Goes well with: Woodland, undertrees, rock garden, nooks and crannies.

About this genus:

Cyclamen are tuberous winter-growing Mediterranean natives that used to be in the primula family but taxonomist now put it in the myrsine family (Myrsinaceae). The genus contains 23 species and several of them make wonderful, easy to grow, winter-hardy specimens. Cyclamen is Medieval Latin, from earlier Latin, from Ancient Greek and probably  means "circle" because of the round tuber. It gets its common name "sow-bread" because pigs are said to eat them!

Cyclamen grow best if they can be kept dry but tolerate quite a bit of moisture - like in our garden the North of Ireland. Better in part-shade.

The leaves emerge in autumn and are usually heart shaped and sport amazing silver variegation patterns that vary from individual to individual; they rival the flowers as an ornamental feature. Cyclamen typically flower over a two to three month period with bizarre little pink, purple, or white flowers.

Since Cyclamen are so small, they only pair well with other small plants that will not overgrow or crowd them out like - we say keep them to themselves either in small pockets or large groups. We find that our Cyclamen thrive near the base of a large tree where they get sun for part of the day but little moisture while they are summer dormant. We have a load of them under part of our woodland (maybe 10m x 20m or 30 feet by 60 feet). They can also be displayed in a rock garden or a spot where nothing else competes for space. We also stick them in a few different nooks and crannies - in fact you might step on them as you walk into our nursery or front door.