Hardy Cyclamen
Plant of the week for 07 September 2007
At this time of the year the first of the hardy cyclamen are beginning to show their dainty flowers and what a lovely sight they make. They can be found growing in the wild in the mountainous regions bordering the Mediterranean stretching from the South of France through Italy and Greece right into Turkey.
Cyclamen neapolitanum (syn. hederifolium) is the best known of the species, It’s lovely rose pink blossoms, which are produced in great profusion, are now appearing followed later on this month by a luxuriant carpet of marbled foliage which last until Spring. They are amongst the easiest of all plants to grow thriving almost anywhere even in the poorest soils and only require some shade and good drainage. The ideal position is at the base of trees where these conditions prevail naturally.
[Photo: Cyclamen neapolitanum] Buy neapolitanum
You need have no fear of ever loosing them as they seed themselves freely. The tubers increase in size each year and can last for decades rather than years. Long established clumps can produce tubers up to 6in (15cm) across. Hardy Cyclamen are now a protected species and it is an offence world wide to dig them up from the wild. We therefore offer pot grown plants raised in our own nurseries. The great advantage apart from protecting the environment is that these plants will readily establish themselves. Just dry corms, as widely offered, often take several years to show any sign of life and if they have not been stored under ideal condition will never recover.
Visit the Cyclamen section of our on-line shop.
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