Barely six inches high, it opens its flowers at the end of summer and carries on through autumn, untroubled by light frost and quite capable of blooming under snow. Ivy-leaved cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) sows itself freely: give it light, well-drained soil in the part shade of a tree and it spreads into a carpet of flowers.
| Name | Cyclamen hederifolium |
|---|---|
| Synonym | Cyclamen neapolitanum |
| Family | Primulaceae |
| Type | bulb/tuber |
| Height | 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) |
| Exposure | part shade, forest underbrush |
| Soil | light and well drained |
| Flowering | late summer to autumn |
It is recommended to plant the cyclamen bulbs in spring, at the end of summer or at the beginning of fall.
It can be set in a pot, garden box and also in semi-shaded flower beds.
In any case, only superficial cover is needed for the bulb, with garden earth blended with soil mix.
For cyclamen purchased with flowers already, check that there are new buds forming, this will ensure the blooming will last longer.
Sowing is quite easy. Simply recover seeds when the capsules open up and put them in nursery pots with soil mix.
Ivy-leaved cyclamen settles just as happily in open ground as in a container, but each situation asks for slightly different watering. Here is what changes from one to the next.
| Where to grow | Light | Watering | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open ground under a tree, or an east- or north-facing wall | Part shade | Rain is usually enough, except in strong heat or long dry spells | Space bulbs 3 to 6 in (10 to 20 cm) apart, 1¾ to 2 in (5 to 6 cm) deep |
| Pot or garden box | Part shade | Water more often, letting the soil dry between sessions | Make sure water drains away well and never leave a full saucer |
| Semi-shaded flower bed | Part shade | Natural rainfall, helped along after a dry summer | Self-seeds and quickly builds up to a carpet of flowers |
| Indoor plant wall, lean-in or veranda | Cool, bright spot | Keep drainage free-running, water at the soil not the tuber | Needs a place that gets a bit cooler in winter |
Whatever the spot, only superficial cover is needed over the bulb.
No care is needed, but if you wish, you can remove wilted or yellowing flowers regularly.
Mark each planting spot with a label, since the tuber vanishes completely in summer.
Once the leaves of Cyclamen hederifolium have died back, spread a thin layer of leaf mould over the colony, which feeds the plants and gives self-sown seedlings a rooting medium.
Sweep or lift heavy fallen tree leaves off the flowers, which are too short to push through a thick mat.
Leave established clumps undisturbed; they flower more freely each time they widen.
Natural watering when it rains should be enough, except in case of strong heat or long-lasting dry spells.
If the summer was quite dry and you feel that your cyclamen have trouble rising up, simply help them along by watering a bit.
For spectacular blooming, add flower plant fertilizer once a week.
Aim the water at the soil around the clump rather than over the tuber, since a crown that stays wet rots readily.
Never leave a potted ivy-leaved cyclamen standing in a full saucer.
While the tuber is leafless and dormant in summer, keep it mostly dry, watering only sparingly if at all, since prolonged damp soil at that stage raises the risk of rot.
Ivy-leaved cyclamen is rather hardy. It can survive light frost and even bear flowers under snow! Another name for it is actually hardy cyclamen.
Together with Cyclamen persicum, ivy-leaved cyclamen is one of the most commonly sold cyclamen sub-species.
Since it has been cultivated for nearly two centuries, there are now many different cultivars and varieties. An odd English name for the plant is “sowbread”, not because the tubers resemble a loaf of bread (they’re toxic!) but because wild pigs were said to love rummaging around the soil to find them.
Sadly, many of them have lost any fragrance they might have had in the wild. This is because breeders usually aimed for different flowers or shapes of leaves.
In ancient biblical times, cyclamen flowers and tubers were used to prepare incense. It was used in a religious context for major events. Learn more about the links between cyclamen and religion.
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Amending the soil with special “flower plant” organic fertilizer will strongly increase growth and blooming of the plant.
Ivy-leaved cyclamen will do great as part of an indoor plant wall, especially if in a spot that gets a bit cooler in winter. Lean-ins and verandas are perfect.
