Cyclamen hederifolium

Description

Cyclamen hederifolium – hardy cyclamen

Botanical name: Cyclamen hederifolium
Common names: Hardy cyclamen, ivy-leaved cyclamen
Family: Primulaceae
Plant type: Tuberous perennial
Habit: Low, clump-forming
Pot size: 9cm pot
Eventual size: Approx. 10–15cm tall × 10–15cm spread
Foliage: Beautifully marbled, ivy-shaped leaves through autumn and winter; dormant in summer
Flowers: Nodding pink flowers with swept-back petals, autumn (September–November), before and with the leaves
Scent: Lightly scented
Aspect / light: Partial to full shade
Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained; tolerates dry shade; neutral to alkaline
Hardiness: RHS H5 (hardy, to about −15°C); USDA zones 5–9
Exposure: Sheltered
Native range: Southern Europe and the Mediterranean
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Toxic if eaten — all parts, especially the tuber, are harmful to people, cats and dogs

Cyclamen hederifolium is a hardy, easy-going cyclamen producing delicate pink flowers in autumn, followed by beautifully marbled, ivy-shaped leaves that last through winter. Excellent for naturalising in dry shade beneath trees and shrubs, it spreads slowly over time to form charming colonies.

GardenAdvice notes

A hardy, tuberous perennial in the primula family, hardy cyclamen grows from a flattened tuber and follows an autumn-to-spring cycle, flowering as the leaves emerge in autumn and resting underground through summer. It is one of the finest plants for dry shade beneath trees and shrubs, seeding around gently to form established colonies over the years.

Growing & planting

Plant tubers or pot-grown plants in late summer or early autumn in humus-rich, well-drained soil in partial to full shade, ideally under deciduous trees or shrubs. Set tubers shallowly, just below the surface. It copes well with the dry shade and root competition that defeat many plants. Leave undisturbed to naturalise.

Care & maintenance

Very low-maintenance once settled. An annual autumn mulch of leaf mould feeds the colony and helps seed germinate. Allow the foliage to die down naturally in late spring as the plant goes dormant for summer. No watering is needed once established, as it prefers a dry summer rest.

Propagation

• Seed: Self-sows freely; collect and sow ripe seed in summer, or let it spread naturally. Ants help distribute the seed.
• Division: Not usually divided — tubers resent disturbance and are best left to build up in place.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. Vine weevil grubs can attack tubers of container-grown plants, and squirrels or mice occasionally dig up tubers. Otherwise it is remarkably resilient and long-lived.

Uses in the garden

Superb for naturalising in dry shade under trees and shrubs, in woodland borders, on shady banks and around the base of hedges, where both the autumn flowers and the marbled winter foliage bring interest to difficult spots.

Wildlife value

The autumn flowers provide late-season nectar for bees and other pollinators still on the wing.

Toxicity & safety

Hardy cyclamen is toxic if eaten — all parts, and especially the tuber, are harmful to people, cats and dogs. Plant where pets are unlikely to dig up and chew the tubers.

GardenAdvice tip

Plant hardy cyclamen tubers only just below the soil surface — bury them too deep and they sulk or fail to flower. Once you have one thriving colony, resist the urge to tidy away the seedheads: the ants carry the seed around and, left alone, a single plant will slowly carpet a shady bank over the years.

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