Cyclamen

What does Cyclamen look like?

Cyclamen plants grow from round or flattened tubers, with leaves and flowers sprouting from the top. The leaves are often patterned in green and silver, with shapes that range from ivy-like to heart-shaped or nearly round, and the undersides can be green, red, or purple. Each flower has five petals that sweep upwards or outwards, usually in pink, white, or purple, sometimes with darker marks at the base. The flowers are carried on stems that bend so the blooms face down. Cyclamen flowers have a subtle scent, and the plants are prized for both their blooms and their striking foliage.

Where does Cyclamen come from?

Cyclamen are native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, the Caucasus, Iran, and one species is found in Somalia. Most species come from regions with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The name comes from Greek, referring to the coiled fruit stalk or the round tuber. The genus was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 and has been classified in the Primulaceae family. Cyclamen have been cultivated and admired for centuries, and their diversity has been studied to understand their adaptation to changing climates.

When and how Cyclamen blooms

Cyclamen grow from tubers, which are often mistaken for corms but lack a papery covering. Leaves usually appear in autumn, last through winter, and die back in spring, with the plant going dormant in summer. Flowers bloom at different times depending on the species—some in summer and autumn, others in winter or spring. Cyclamen are grown from seed or tubers, and many species are selected for their leaf patterns as well as their flowers. They can be grown outdoors in mild climates or indoors in pots.

How Cyclamen is used

Cyclamen are widely grown for their decorative flowers and patterned leaves, both in gardens and as potted plants. Florists' cyclamens, especially Cyclamen persicum, are popular for indoor decoration. The flowers are used in perfumery for their clean, fresh scent. In the past, cyclamen were used in folk traditions as love charms or aphrodisiacs, but today they are mainly valued for their ornamental beauty. Some species are threatened in the wild due to over-collection.

Kinds of Cyclamen

There are 25 recognized species of Cyclamen, with notable differences in leaf shape, flower color, and hardiness. Cyclamen hederifolium is hardy and widely naturalized in parts of Europe, while Cyclamen persicum is the main species sold by florists. Cultivars vary in flower color from white to deep purple, and in leaf patterns. Some species, like Cyclamen purpurascens, keep their leaves year-round, while others are summer-dormant.

What Cyclamen means

Cyclamen have been part of European and Mediterranean culture for centuries. In the sixteenth century, they were associated with love and fertility, and women avoided them during pregnancy. Cyclamen have been used as symbols in folklore and sometimes in food or drink as love charms. Today, they are valued as ornamental plants and are part of conservation efforts due to threats from wild collection. Their subtle scent is used in modern perfumery.

Traditions that use it

Questions people ask about Cyclamen

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Cyclamen on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data