The holidays are coming soon, and we are all looking forward to those cheery red Christmas flowers. Poinsettias are probably the most recognized seasonal flower, but they are not the only colorful plant that blooms during the holidays.
Cyclamen, a genus of decorative plants of the Primulaceae or primrose family, contains approximately 20 species. They originate in the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean and are considered natives to parts of Europe, western Asia and North Africa. It is thought that the Persians first cultivated them around 3,000 years ago.
The name cyclamen is derived from the Greek for circle or disk and refers to the shape of the root tuber. Greek military and surgeons used cyclamen for a variety of medical purposes and later, this plant became so favored in Rome, it was planted with narcissus and violets.
The cyclamen’s popularity grew in Europe where numerous cultivars were bred including the large (6 to 12 inches tall and wide) and miniature (3 to 6 inches tall and wide) forms. A great many colors were also developed, as well as the double blossom type.
In the 1800s, cyclamen found its way to the United States and it has been growing in favor here ever since.
Today, cyclamens are popular holiday plants that will grow happily in a pot or, here in Redlands, in the ground. You can select your favorite color generally during fall to spring when they are in full bloom.
These tuberous perennials just seem to love to show off their large heart-shaped roundish leaves (often highlighted with spots or pewter-patterned markings) and their shooting-star-shaped flowers that are now available not only in bright reds but also white, pinks, fuchsias, corals, purples, lavenders and bi-color combinations.
If you want to dress up your holidays with an easy-growing colorful indoor bloomer that has a tough-as-nails constitution, the cyclamen might be just for you. Both large and small varieties are much sought after for seasonal and other floral arrangements. And, after the holidays, you can enjoy cyclamen for years to come.
When shopping for a cyclamen, select a healthy, well-rounded plant with a few flowers open and more buds on the way. In the home, the plant will do best with bright, indirect light, but you can move it from table to table as you wish.
Cyclamens prefer cooler temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Water as needed, but don’t let this plant stand in water or get too dry. Groom the plant as necessary and enjoy.
Outdoors, cyclamen are wonderful when planted in drifts, as ground covers or under story plantings. They like well-drained good soil and light shade. Avoid overwatering in the summer when tubers are dormant. Soggy soil will lead to root rot.
Through the years, some cyclamen tubers can gradually multiply, somewhat like crocuses. Not only are cyclamen beautiful, they are also long-lived. Records indicate that some have lived more than a century,
Although there are cyclamen species that can bloom each month of the year, cyclamen do not attract hummingbirds or other nectar-feeding birds, nor do they attract butterflies.
For information, call 909-798-9384.
Source: Joyce Dean, a member of the Garden and Floral Arrangers Guild
