Award-winning hardy cyclamen collection
RHS AGM cyclamen bulb collection
The pretty shades of hardy cyclamen are a beautiful sight in the garden when not many other plants are flowering. These little marvels can flower through three seasons from autumn all the way into spring. Supplied as large corms of flowering size.
How to care for Award-winning hardy cyclamen collection:
Plant cyclamen corms with the rounded, usually smooth side facing downwards and and the slightly concave side uppermost, planting them shallowly so the top of the corm is just covered with a thin layer of soil or compost. Choose a sheltered position in partial shade, using humus-rich, fertile, free-draining compost.
Cyclamen are well suited to growing in pots, particularly in wide, shallow containers with good drainage holes, where their delicate flowers and patterned foliage can be enjoyed up close. Use a loam-based compost mixed with leafmould and grit to improve drainage, and avoid waterlogged conditions as the corms can rot in heavy or consistently wet compost.
Water after planting and keep the compost lightly moist while the leaves and flowers are actively growing, but reduce watering during the summer dormant period when the foliage dies back. Apply a mulch of well-rotted leafmould around established plants in spring as the foliage begins to fade, helping to maintain moisture levels and replicate their natural woodland conditions.
Hardy cyclamen are excellent for naturalising beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, in woodland-style borders, rockeries and sheltered areas where they can gradually form attractive clumps. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering so the corms can replenish their energy before the next season’s growth.
Cyclamen are well suited to growing in pots, particularly in wide, shallow containers with good drainage holes, where their delicate flowers and patterned foliage can be enjoyed up close. Use a loam-based compost mixed with leafmould and grit to improve drainage, and avoid waterlogged conditions as the corms can rot in heavy or consistently wet compost.
Water after planting and keep the compost lightly moist while the leaves and flowers are actively growing, but reduce watering during the summer dormant period when the foliage dies back. Apply a mulch of well-rotted leafmould around established plants in spring as the foliage begins to fade, helping to maintain moisture levels and replicate their natural woodland conditions.
Hardy cyclamen are excellent for naturalising beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, in woodland-style borders, rockeries and sheltered areas where they can gradually form attractive clumps. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering so the corms can replenish their energy before the next season’s growth.
What's included:
In each collection you will receive the following corms:
3 × Cyclamen hederifolium: One of the most common autumn cyclamen and often referred to as Cyclamen neapolitanum, with their pretty, marbled heart-shaped leaves and upright fragrant pink flowers. Generally flowering in September, October and November, these easy to grow cyclamen have a long period of interest before disappearing below ground over the summer. The flowers often appear well before the leaves, which later form a pretty carpet after the flowers have gone.
Although they are usually planted in shade, these cyclamen originate from the Mediterranean so are equally happy in sun. Grows to 12cm tall.
3 × Cyclamen cilicium: A more unusual cyclamen, but as easy to grow as other hardy cyclamen. The slender pale to rose-pink flowers, somethimes with a light fragrance, appear between September to November and give this pretty cyclamen a more delicate appearance than many of the other species. Made up of 5 twisted and recurved petals, which have a magenta blotch at their mouth, the nodding flowers appear at the same time as the foliage in autumn and usually last for several weeks.
The mid-green leaves are heavily patterned with silver on the upper surface, with a purplish sheen underneath, and will remain attractive throughout the winter before dying back in spring.
Introduced in 1872, this species originates from coniferous forests in southern Turkey, where they are found growing amongst rocks and screes. They prefer a sheltered spot with freely draining soil in partial shade. Grows to 12cm tall.
3 × Cyclamen coum: After the autumn cyclamen have flowered, these delicate pink flowers with upswept petals appear in winter or early spring (generally December to April) above rounded, silvery green leaves. These diminutive cyclamen make excellent companions for ferns and other shade-loving plants. Grows to 10cm.
Although they are usually planted in shade, these cyclamen originate from the Mediterranean so are equally happy in sun. Grows to 12cm tall.
The mid-green leaves are heavily patterned with silver on the upper surface, with a purplish sheen underneath, and will remain attractive throughout the winter before dying back in spring.
Introduced in 1872, this species originates from coniferous forests in southern Turkey, where they are found growing amongst rocks and screes. They prefer a sheltered spot with freely draining soil in partial shade. Grows to 12cm tall.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
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Humans/Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten
