Cyclamen

Cyclamen is one of my favorite winter-time plants (Mediterranean region native). Other than poinsettias, C. persicum are probably the most common seasonal holiday plant sold at nurseries and plant stands. Don't mistake these plants with their hardy varieties as the nursery bred plants will not survive freezing temperatures (I've lost several in planters on my covered deck). The adjacent picture is a specimen of C. coum I discovered at Swanson's Nursery last November and was in full bloom by the end of January (it was a mild winter and the plant typically blooms in February). For $9.00 it was a steal considering how developed the plant was.



In addition, I am growing C. hederifolium (the most common/hardy species) in the p-patch plot, and have a bunch of assorted pots on my deck where I'm attempting to cultivate some of the more difficult and exotic species (four of the five pots show signs of growth). Hansen Nursery in North Bend, OR, sells an impressive selection of cyclamen bare root plants.

What really impresses me about this plant is that it looks great year-round and is non-invasive. The striking ivy-like leaves dominate the plant most of the year, and the plant flowers (depending upon species) in fall and winter. So, it isn't uncommon that hardy cyclamen will be blooming in snowy conditions when everything around it is dormant. Cyclamen thrive best under forest trees where there is partial shade and plenty of decomposing leaf matter.


If you are looking to check out hardy cyclamen -- outside of nurseries -- in the Seattle area you are certainly up for a challenge. I know of two places that have the plant. The Seattle Arboretum has a winter garden with many years of cyclamen growth (C. hederifolium and C. coum). Also, the Krukenberg Botanical Garden has C. hederifolium growing in bunches throughout the property and alongside the adjacent roadway.