Cyclamen Society show Sept07

[Diane Clement]

The Cyclamen held its Autumn Midland show at Birmingham Botanical gardens today.  For the first year since I joined the society I did not exhibit any plants.  My cyclamen are way behind those in the show hall and didn't seem worth taking.  However, plenty of exhibitors turned up with superb plants and here is a selection.  Firstly a general view of the show bench

[Diane Clement]

Cyclamen graecum were around in profusion, some shown for flower and some for foliage. 

graecum anatolicum
graecum candicum
graecum Rhodes form
graecum candicum shown for foliage

[Diane Clement]

mirabile next

mirabile Tilebarn Anne with amazing foliage
mirabile from Cyclamen society expedition with long twisted flowers
ditto close up

[Diane Clement]

Cyclamen colchicum, not so long ago rare in cultivation, now with a class devoted to it.

[Diane Clement]

hederifolium albiflorum
hederifolium var confusum
hederifolium var confusum darker flowers

[Diane Clement]

intaminatum 2 plants

followed by cilicium
and an unbelievably pink cilicium (yes it was that colour)

[Diane Clement]

nearly finished
africanum
followed by the best in show, C purpurascens album

[Diane Clement]

and to round off the day, we were given a tour round the garden by Vic Aspland who showed us some of the new developments in the gardens and of course, a few cyclamen

[ChrisB]

Wow nice pics Diane,  Thanks for sharing them with us!

[Martin Baxendale]

Thanks Diane!! It's years since I found time to get to a Cyclamen Society show, so your pics are very welcome indeed. Stunning plants. I just love those C. colchicum, and those pink C. intaminatum. But so many other gorgeous plants, not really fair to pick out just one or two for praise. Was Phil Cornish there? Haven't seen him for years either, even though he's just over in Gloucester - too much work and not enough play, that's my problem! 

[Lesley Cox]

What super plants and pics Diane, many thanks for taking them for us. I really loved the C. hederifolium confusum, especially the second one. Why that varietal name?

And I certianly believe the dark coloured C. cilicium. I have a good darker than usual form too, just about that shade, but years ago I had a friend (the late Bob Barnett, for NZers) who had a form which was crimson. It really was cilicium, very very deep coloured. All he knew of its provenance was that it came from Iran. Unfortunately neither his, nor my current one, ever set(s) seed. On the other hand, mine flowers for almost 5 months, much longer than my regular cilicium tubers.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thank you Diane !
Always a pleasure to attend a show - even from a distance.

[annew]

Really enjoed these pix - thanks, Diane!

[Diane Clement]

What super plants and pics Diane, many thanks for taking them for us. I really loved the coC. hederifolium confusum, especially the second one. Why that varietal name?

Cyclamen hederifolium var confusum is quite a distinct form - I believe it is the form found in Crete and southern Peloponnese - towards the south of the range of hederifolium.  It is scented (usually? always?) and has rather more leathery leaves, and often with dark flowers.  Mine tend to flower late than the type.  I am not sure why the name "confusum" has been used, but there is much debate as to its origins as it is a tetraploid.

[David Shaw]

Lovely report, Diane, thank you. Like yours, our Cyclamen are way behind these speciments this year.