Plant Profile: Cyclamen

Taxonomy: Cyclamen

Names

Alpine Violet, Cyclamen, Persian Violet, Sowbread, Woodland Cyclamen

  • Photo of Cyclamen (Cyclamens)

Phonetic Spelling:SY-kla-men

Genus:Cyclamen

Species:

Family:Primulaceae

This plant yields lush, dark green foliage following its blooming period and is rarely affected by deer. There are multiple species, such as C. coum, C. persicum, and C. hederifolium, the latter commonly referred to as woodland cyclamen. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9, preferring slightly moist, rich soil and some shade from the afternoon sun.

When planting, ensure the enlarged hypocotyl is placed at a depth of 5 inches (12.5 cm). It can sustain damage if temperatures drop below 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 degrees Celsius).

Cyclamen Feature Summary

Cyclamen Image Gallery

Tags

#fall flowers
#spring flowers
#summer bulbs
#winter flowers
#partial shade tolerant
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses

Similar Plants

Cyclamen Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe to Iran and North East Somalia
Store enlarged hypocotyls in peat at 48 degrees F (9 degrees C); Not necessary for some.
Flowers
White to pale pink to deep magenta flowers appear anywhere from fall through spring.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Spring
Fall
Winter
Leaves
Produces succulent, dark green leaves after flowering
Green
Gray/Silver
Variegated
Poisonous to Humans
Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. Following large ingestions of tubers: heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, death
Terpenoid saponins
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Landscape
Winter Garden
Shade Garden
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Cyclamen Attributes

Cyclamen: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe to Iran and North East Somalia

Cyclamen: Bulb Storage

Store enlarged hypocotyls in peat at 48 degrees F (9 degrees C); Not necessary for some.

Cyclamen: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cyclamen Flowers

Cyclamen: Flower Description

White to pale pink to deep magenta flowers appear anywhere from fall through spring.

Cyclamen: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
White

Cyclamen: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Cyclamen Leaves

Cyclamen: Leaf Description

Produces succulent, dark green leaves after flowering

Cyclamen: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green
spa
Variegated

Cyclamen: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Cyclamen: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Cyclamen: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cyclamen Poisonous to Humans

Cyclamen: Poison Symptoms

Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. Following large ingestions of tubers: heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, death

Cyclamen: Poison Toxic Principle

Terpenoid saponins

Cyclamen: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Cyclamen: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Cyclamen Whole Plant Traits

Cyclamen: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cyclamen Cultural Conditions

Cyclamen: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cyclamen Stem

Cyclamen: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cyclamen Landscape

Cyclamen: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Cyclamen: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy