Winter and Spring Flowering Cyclamen: Care, Planting and Tips
Cyclamen Coum are winter and spring-flowering Cyclamen. They are tuberous perennials, very similar to bulbs, and will return each year. They are easy to grow, and fully hardy, as the image left shows the C.coum in snow. The leaves are green and silver with flowers in shades of pink, magenta and white.
Key Facts:
Planting Depth: Plant tubers close to the surface, at a maximum depth of 5 m and spread around 10cm apart. Small dainty plants, Cyclamen Coum grow to around 10cm. Plant between September and late November.
Cyclamen look good with : Because their flowering period is late winter/early spring, Cyclamen are ideal for planting with snowdrops and crocus for an early spring display.
Soil: Cyclamen Coum flowers best in humus-rich soil. This variety of Cyclamen will grow in any type of soil except waterlogged soils.
Height: 3-15cm
Light: Semi shade
Tip C. Coum is not tolerant of dry soils, distinguished from the autumn-flowering Cyclamen hederifolium. You can grow C.Coum under trees, just not in the driest of soils, whereas C. hederifolium will grow in full shade and dry soil.
After flowering, the leaves will die back, and the tubers are dormant over the summer. Before the leaves die back completely and while you still know where the plants are, mulching (leaf mould is ideal) will prevent the tubers from drying out over summer.
Planting Cyclamen hederifolium with Cyclamen Coum is not recommended because the latter, C. coum, is too delicate for C. hederifolium, which may end up smothering it. Coum is too dainty for the C. hederifolium, which will tend to smother it.
These varieties of Cyclamen are fully hardy.
I have tagged it as a green wheelbarrow plant, symbolising easy to grow.