Cyclamen 2008

[Oron Peri]

Joakim,

C. persicum [the species] can be used as ground cover giving it the right conditions.

The persicums you have shown us in the photos are not the wild species but cultivars,
these do not last very long, even here where conditions are optimal for growing persicums,  I treat the cultivars as annuals. Occasionally some strains are better and can last few seasons, mainly the small sized flowers.
As for the reddish color on the back side of the leaf, most of the cultivates strains lost this characteristic probably because it has less importance in the final product..
So I suggest you to try the species.

[snowdropman]

Joakim - I would like to reinforce what Oron has told you - what you have are known as 'Florist' forms of persicum, which are very tender & not frost hardy - in the UK these are sold by Florists/Garden Centres and are for growing indoors only.

Peter Moore of Tilebarn Nursery sells several forms of species persicum, most of which originated from Israel,  and these have come unscathed through our English winters outside in the garden, have flowered and set seed - these are what you need to get hold of - Peter can be contacted at tilebarn.nursery@virgin.net and is happy to send to you in Europe.   

[ashley]

By the way Jan Bravenboer lists Persian Beauty in his seeds list. [from plants i have sent him]

Thanks for this information Oron; I'd certainly like to grow it.

[Paul T]

The smaller types of the florist persicums (sold here as Shady Lady cyclamen... these are miniature varieties, not the bigger florist types) are perfectly hardy in my case, although not all plants.  You never know which ones will survive and which ones won't, but some have lasted here for 5 years and seed about a bit too.  Some of the big florist ones will survive outside here as well (I have a couple of those that are 3 years old out in the garden, but the smaller ones do much better).  I mention this because of the statement that they are not frost hardy..... we get to -6'C every year (most years -8'C) and I guarantee that our cyclamens get frost in some form or other.  I'd say give it a try with a few of them (don't try just one or you might get one that isn't when another might be) and persevere.  You weed out the ones that won't grow, but the ones that will tolerate it will survive and hopefully seed for you.  A lot of plants that "won't" grow may just in the right spot in your garden, so give it a try.  The plants after all don't read books. 

[Oron Peri]

You are welcome Ashley,

Last seoson's harvest was really poor for me, other wise I would have speared some seeds,
hopfully next spring will be better.

[ChrisB]

Hi Oron,

There are exceptions to all rules I suppose.  My mum had a Cyclamen she bought at a supermarket and gave to me when it finished flowering.  Not knowing any better at the time, I stuck it in the ground and left it.  It has now been there for at least 8 years and has grown to become a very large plant.  Here is one leaf, which measures 8.5cm square.  Its unremarkable except that it is very hardy.  The foliage is ho hum, and the flowers are very large, pale pink, and clash horribly with my daffodils that come up beside it (must move them one day....).  I'm sure its one of those commercial jobs, but it has settled in nicely in Northumberland, where the temp regularly dips below freezing in winter.  It even has offspring growing alongside it now too, I noticed.  I have only leaf to show you right now, but they are not very special anyway.

[johnw]

Five of these self-sowed in a pot of Carmichaelia. Four are identical to this one and the other is green with normal markings and they all look like persicum. The only two persicums I have are unremarkable - Cyclamen persicum cw Rhodes or Israel #3249-12 from the Cyclamen Society.

I show two others in my inventory but doubt the seed was sown, maybe I set the seed on the greenhouse shelf and they fell into the pot.

Cyclamen persicum ex CSE-F S11 N90431
Cyclamen persicum ex CSE-F 91-310

Do they look like persicum to the experts out there?

Lastly a pot of africanum in bloom.

johnw 

[Oron Peri]

Hi Oron,

There are exceptions to all rules I suppose. 

I agree with you,  Luckily!!! there are exceptions... I am growing some [againts all rules] C. purpurascens, coum cucasicum and elegans
in my garden in temperatures that can reach 36c easily....and they survive and almost evergreen with me.
In my opinion miracles happans growing plants.

By the way are you sure your moms plant isn't C. purpurascens?

[Oron Peri]

John,

Your silvery 'Christmas tree' patterned leaf is no doubt C. persicum.

[Joakim B]

Hi and thanks to all that replied.
In Sweden the plants are almost used as a "un-cut cutflower". When the flowers are gone so is the plant unless there i a frost-free glassed veranda or so.
Here in Portugal my mother-in-law has a few that is seeding around in a pot. All seedlings seems to have red back. We do not have real frosts here and these were under some cover from the roof so they were a bit protected. I will plant this out in the pot. They might survive or they might not and if not due to many reasons.
My fear was that the planting with Hibiscus would be to wet? Any comments on that?
I will try to get hold of some nice ones more true to he species through the seed exchange that is less (in)breed and hence hardier.

It is good to know where really nice ones can be found and if these "Florist" ones like my way of growing I might get even nicer ones from the sources suggested.
Regarding purpurascens, I have one in Hungry and there it also gets very warm summers around 35 C and this summer was up close to 40C so some are hardier than others in both ends so to say. Maybe I will take some to Portugal???

Once again many thanks
Joakim

[ChrisB]

Hi Oron,

I've no idea really about its identity.  Do you need to see the flower to say?  If so, I'll scan a flower in when it starts to produce, but won't be until beginning of 2009.  I had just assumed it to be C. persicum because it was bought in a supermarket.  You don't expect to get anything other than ordinary-ness in places like that.

[Oron Peri]

Hi Chris,

A flower would help the identification, but if you say it blooms at the beginning of the year it is more probible to be persicum as you mentioned.
C. purpurascens blooms around July.

[ChrisB]

It blooms for a long time starting in Jan/Feb but not until July, that's for sure.  Flowers are quite big.

[johnw]

Thanks Oron.

johnw

[ChrisB]

Oron,

Here is a better photo of the plant in situ, it was dark last night so I scanned just one leaf, the whole plant is about 2ft square, but with a few 'babies' around it.

Also, I have a C. persicum I bought from the members plant table at the Discussion Weekend last year.  This may have a better chance of being species I reckon.  Its got lovely foliage....