Issue 206 Things About Cyclamen

1. Cyclamen is split into two groups:

Hardy, outdoor types such as,

Cyclamen hederifolium, which flowers now, with large flowers in shades of pink appearing before the leaves in early autumn. The dark, marbled foliage bears a resemblance to that of ivy. This species self-seeds freely.

Cyclamen coum, which flowers in late winter with pink or magenta flowers. It has kidney-shaped, dark-green leaves that are often marked with silver and white. This species can survive the severest of winters.

And warm-loving, indoor types, such as Cyclamen persicum, which have much bigger flowers.
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2. Cyclamen has five petals which can grow to between 2-10cm, depending on the variety. The nose of the flowers face downwards, with the petals facing upwards, to protect the pollen from wind and rain.
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3. Cyclamen is native to Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and the Middle East, where they grow in woods, rocky areas, and alpine meadows.
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4. Outdoor cyclamen thrives in dry shade so is perfect for that tricky spot under a tree, or in a shady border. Outdoor cyclamen does not need watering: autumn and winter rain levels in Scotland will be enough but do not let the the plants dry out.
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5. Do not worry if your outdoor cyclamen looks like it has disappeared altogether in summertime. This is their dormant phase and the leaves and flowers will reappear as soon as it gets cooler again.
6. Cyclamen was once given to pigs to enhance the flavour of the pork, giving them the common name of sowbread but be careful, they are toxic to cats and dogs, so keep your pets well away.Scotland GrowsNavigationEditor's WelcomeContentsWhat's Gorgeous in the Garden?The Home of Garden OrnamentsGive the Gift of GardeningScotland’s Apple HeritageScotland's Garden SchemeA Cut Flower Garden From ScratchFeature Your GardenGrowing While RentingTulip Tub TimeCome and Chat About PlantsGarden Design: Where Do We Start?Just 3 PlantsScotland Grows ShowWaterlogged GardenScotland's Summer Rainfall 2023The Peat ArgumentJoin The CaleyA Beginner’s Guide to Bokashi6 Things About CyclamenAutumn Garden PrepClayton's Garden JourneyRose Hips - More Than a Pretty PictureTrellis Impact ReportA Very Scottish Composting ProblemScotland's Summer Temperatures 2023Mulching With HopsGrow Your Business advertPrepare to Pick a Perfectly Plump PlumBramble GlazeHarvest PicturesThe Swede KingThe Indonesian CookAsk The ExpertsHome-made Fruit LiqueursPlastic-free Gardening BookShow Me the Way to AmaryllisScotland Grows Website5 Rare and Unusual HouseplantsScotland Grows SubscriptionJobs AheadWhat's On In ScotlandThe Last WordNext Issue advertArchives