Cyclamen, Pewter Group

Sun Exposure: partial shadeFlower Color: roseLevel of Care: easy

These members of the primrose family are hardy versions of florist's cyclamen. Corms do not multiply but increase in size from year to year, producing larger plants. Ours are grown from seed in England. An extremely hardy species, able to withstand even the worst winter weather; the first blooms may greet snow. The stems are seldom more than 3 inches high. The leaves from this species are silver, not marbled, and they appear in autumn. Red to pink flowers--miniature florists cyclamen--appear later, from December through April, depending on location. This shade-tolerant species is easily grown in a well-drained, leafy soil. Plant shallow, no more than 1 1/2 inches deep with smooth side down, and mulch with leafmold mixed with wood ashes. Be patient because bulbs may remain dormant for over a year, but blooms are always worth the wait, and self-sown seedlings are the norm.