Cyclamen persicum

Common Names

Florist's Cyclamen, Persian Cyclamen, Cyclamen, Indoor Cyclamen, Persian Violet

Summary

Florist's cyclamen is a tuberous perennial prized for winter blooming flowers and heart shaped, silver marbled leaves, five reflexed petals rise on tall stems, with sweet scented blooms in white, pink, red, or purple, native to the Mediterranean region and parts of the Middle East, it typically grows about 6 to 16 inches tall and wide, flowers from winter to spring, and goes dormant in summer, primarily grown as a winter indoor plant, it requires bright indirect light and cool temperatures around 50 to 65°F, with a well-draining, slightly acidic soil kept consistently moist but not soggy, water from below or at the edge to protect the crown, and humidity helps flowering, fertilize lightly during active growth, prune spent blooms to encourage rebloom, and repot as growth resumes, propagation is mainly by seed, and all parts are toxic if ingested

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 inches

Spread

6-9 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Loamy, moist, well-drained soil.

Soil Drainage

Well-draining soil.

Soil pH

5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

White, pink, red, purple, magenta, lavender, violet, salmon, fuchsia, burgundy; often bi- or tri-colored.

Bloom Time

Winter

Foliage Color

Green with silver marbling

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

rapid growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hoverflies, other pollinators