Cyclamen are gorgeous flowering plants famous for their sweet fragrance. They’re a favorite among florists and gardeners to brighten indoor environments amid gloomy winter months.
You might be eyeing one of these beauties for yourself. Or you may want more of its colorful kind populating your garden or home space.
Regardless of your purpose, you’re right up my alley.
Today, I’ll talk about nine of the most beautiful cyclamen types you should have in your garden. I’ll also share some cyclamen facts and care tips to help you get to know these flowers better.
Take a look!
How Many Types of Cyclamen Are There?
Cyclamen is a genus of flowering perennial plants belonging to the primrose family. There are more than 20 species of them, along with the most widespread Florist’s Cyclamen.
The cyclamen plant is native to Europe and Iran, down to Northeast Somalia. Most of its kinds populate the areas around the Mediterranean.
These flowers love to grow on rocky terrains. Used to their native climate, they thrive in autumn, flower in winter, and go dormant throughout summer.
Most cultivars you can find inside flower shops are a mixed variety of cyclamen species from England, The Netherlands, and Germany. These breeds have larger flowers and are generally more colorful than regular cyclamens.
9 Stunning Types of Cyclamen Flower
There’s no shortage of attractive cyclamen species worthy to be your home companion. You’ll have plenty of options, from cyclamens bearing alluring bright red blooms to cyclamens flowering lovely shades of pink.
Without further ado, here are nine of the best cyclamen types you should have in your garden:
1 – Cyclamen persicum
Known as the Florist’s Cyclamen and Persian Cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum is one of the most beloved species of these flowers. Home gardeners love them for their fun, heart-shaped leaves and enchanting colors.
Their blooms come in attractive shades, including white, pink, and deep red, all looking captivating in the backdrop of winter. Others may exhibit rare magenta and lavender dyes as well.
Aside from their aesthetic, Cyclamen persicum oozes a sweet fragrance, much to the delight of many. Their blooms produce a floral scent almost similar to Lily of the Valley.
2 – Cyclamen coum
If you prefer to grow flora outdoors, then the Cyclamen coum is for you. Also called the Persian Violet, Cyclamen coum is a hardy cousin of the Florist’s Cyclamen that can withstand extreme cold.
Contrary to its hardy nature, the flora grows lovely heart-shaped leaves and delicate, butter-fly shaped flowers. These blooms come in striking shades of white, red, purple, and combinations of the three.
There’s hardly anything surpassing the sight of Cyclamen coum when it blossoms on an early spring morning. Cultivate them with shrubs and trees and add vibrancy to your garden!
3 – Cyclamen purpurascens
Any gardener who loves hardy plants would be glad to learn about Cyclamen purpurascens, a.k.a. the sturdiest cyclamen species.
Cyclamen purpurascens have the longest blooming time, lasting four months, which means you can enjoy their charming presence longer. They’re also virtually evergreen, keeping most of their foliage most summer when all their cousins go dormant.
Of course, they share delightful blooms, too!
This cyclamen species grows exceptionally fragrant and gorgeous blooms with shades between pink and magenta. Their leaves are silvery and dark green, contrasting beautifully with their vivid flowers.
4 – Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium, also known as the Ivy-leaved Cyclamen, is another low-maintenance cyclamen species with elegant qualities.
With flowers boasting rich pink and white petal hues, this plant will bring much-needed life and color to any space during autumn.
The Ivy-leaved Cyclamen prefers to flower between late summer and mid-fall. You’ll find them popping up in your garden when most of the flora have finished their bloom.
Under their bulbs are, as its name suggests, ivy-shaped foliage featuring a multicolored mix of green, silver, gray, and pewter.
They’re perfect to scatter around overlooked and tricky areas in your home!
5 – Cyclamen graecum
Here’s a rare cyclamen variety loved for its lovely leaves more than its flowers. Cyclamen graecum boasts a spectacular appearance, with velvety green foliage marbled by green, gray, and silver layers.
They’re shy bloomers, though, opting to flower in late summer to fall—sometimes even later. But when they do, it’s nothing short of breathtaking.
Picture this:
Rising above the already-pretty foliage are delicate stems carrying dainty, butterfly-shaped blooms. Shooting upwards are petals with pure white to deep-pink hues, scattering like butterflies in the air!
6 – Cyclamen cilicium
The Cyclamen cilicium,or Turkish Hardy Cyclamen,is an award-winning flora for its easy-to-grow qualities, appealing bloom, and tough-as-nails nature. They look delicate, but they can endure climates with freezing temperatures!
Cyclamen cilicium is a fall-blooming plant. They have a unique flower with twisted petals, marked by a rosy-pink shade and a purplish-red blotch at the bloom’s mouth.
Another delightful characteristic of this plant is its honey-smelling scent, which can last weeks! The leaves are oval or heart-shaped, patterned by a green “Christmas tree” shape in the middle.
A group of these cyclamen is a fantastic addition to a rocky garden. You can plant them around shrubs, under trees, border linings, or even containers.
7 – Cyclamen repandum
A less known species of cyclamens is the Cyclamen repandum or Spring Sowbead. It’s native to the woodlands of southern Europe and some islands in the Mediterranean.
Their flowers, which appear in spring between April and May, sometimes produce the faintest sweet scent. They bloom a lovely reddish pink with purple accents around the nose.
Because they bloom late, Spring Sowbead makes a great companion to spring-blooming flora, such as primroses, forget-me-nots, daffodils, and tulips.
8 – Cyclamen intiminatum
Cyclamen intiminatum is a dwarf species but brimming with exquisite qualities. They come from parts of Turkey, growing in woodlands and shady rocky areas.
While small, this species produces exquisite blooms between July and November.
Their flowers are almost chalky white, with gray veins adding a layer of depth to the petals. The leaves are round, often kidney-shaped, and spattered with grayish-green patterns.
Some subspecies of the Cyclamen intiminatum make pearly pink blossoms, too.
Because they’re miniature, gardeners usually grow them in containers. But they generally thrive in sun or shade, making them an excellent choice to create white accents around your yard.
9 – Cyclamen mirabile
For gardeners with an eye for the rarest finds, Cyclamen mirabile is a must-have gem.
These Turkish beauties grow in altitudes of a thousand meters above sea level, choosing rocky slopes and pine forests as their home.
Cyclamen mirabile plantsbloom in autumn like their Turkish cousins. Their flowers can vary between pearly white and deep pink, all exuding a remarkable coconut aroma.
The leaves of this cyclamen are highly decorative, flaunting distinct silvery-pink patterns and pie-crust edges.
Care Tips For Cyclamen Plants
I love Cyclamen plants because they’re easy to grow. But many often struggle to provide the right conditions for the flowers to rebloom.
So, here are some expert tips to help your cyclamen regrow and rebloom:
- During dormancy, keep the cyclamen soil from drying out.
- Move the dormant cyclamen to a shaded spot until new foliage regrows.
- When fresh leaves sprout, relocate the cyclamen to a sunlight-rich area.
- After moving, water the plant regularly or whenever the soil feels dry.
Lastly, continue watering the cyclamen while keeping them from warm temperatures exceeding 60 to 65 °F. Follow these pointers, and your prized flora should rebloom on schedule.
FAQs
How long do cyclamen plants bloom?
How long a cyclamen bloom depends on its species. Florist cyclamen, for example, can flower for four weeks before it goes into dormancy.
Some longer-blooming species, like the Cyclamen purpurascens, can continuously bloom for months.
How to propagate cyclamen plants?
Gardeners propagate cyclamens by sowing seeds or dividing their tubers. However, both methods can be challenging to do at home.
The stem cuttings of these tuberous perennials don’t root easily. And the cultivated varieties we often see are hybrids, which makes finding fertile seeds difficult.
Final Thoughts
Cyclamen is an attractive family of flowers bragging a tapestry of alluring colors and fragrances. From the well-loved Florist Cyclamen to the rare Cyclamen mirabile, each species offers a unique charm to the garden.
So, you want these breathtaking flora decorating your home? Pick one or two or more from the cyclamen types above and let them weave their magical appeal to your space.
Happy gardening!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.