Grow Cyclamen Coum in your garden; this Flower that Blooms in Winter adds color to your yard with pretty blossoms and heart-shaped leaves.
If you want flowers that bloom in winter to brighten up your garden, try Cyclamen coum. Unlike the florist’s cyclamen, which is usually grown indoors in pots, this tough and compact plant blooms outside even during hard frosts in late winter and early spring.
The dark green, heart-shaped foliage, sometimes patterned with silver, looks lovely in the fall, too.
Plant your easy-care Cyclamen coum in partial shade with fertile, well-drained soil for the best blooms.
Keep these plants away from dogs and cats, as Cyclamen can be toxic to pets.
Common Names: Persian violet, The eastern sowbread, Hardy cyclamen
USDA Zones: 4-8
Botanical Name: Cyclamen coum
Propagating Cyclamen Coum
From Seeds:
The best way to grow Cyclamen coum is from seeds, which are both reliable and common. These plants often self-seed, so you might see new flowers popping up on their own.
Since Cyclamen coum grows slowly, plant the seeds between late spring and mid-August to enjoy flowers the next year. Follow these steps to grow a new batch of Cyclamen coum:
- If you’re collecting seeds from your plants, let them ripen to a light brown color and plant them fresh for the best results. Use a well-draining potting mix and plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep. Don’t plant them too deep, as they need some light to grow.
- Keep the potting mix moist but not too wet, and place the seed trays out of direct sunlight.
- The seeds usually sprout in about four weeks. Look for a small tuber and one leaf to appear.
- It’s best to wait until the seedlings’ second growing season before moving them to the ground.
- After about 18 months, the plants should be strong and ready to bloom.
Note: You can try dividing Cyclamen coum when it’s dormant, but the tubers are fragile, and it’s a difficult and unreliable method. There’s also a high risk of fungal and bacterial diseases.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Cyclamen coum
Light
Cyclamen coum are great flowers to plant under trees in your yard. They can tolerate some direct sun but grow best in partial shade with dappled sunlight, especially in hot areas.
Soil
It can grow in most types of soil as long as it drains well. If your soil is heavy clay, using raised beds or rock gardens can help with drainage and prevent the tubers from rotting.
Adding a layer of mulch, like leaf or bark compost, each year helps protect the tubers in cold winters, keeps moisture in during dry summers, and improves drainage.
This species also likes rich soil, and these changes will add nutrients.
Water
Once established, it can tolerate some drought. However, too much water during the summer, when they are dormant, especially in poorly drained soil, can cause the tubers to rot.
They do need regular watering when they are getting started. It’s best to water deeply in early fall to help them break dormancy and get ready for blooming in late winter and early spring.
Temperature and Humidity
One of the reasons Cyclamen coum is so appealing is that it can survive winter temperatures as low as 15°F. However, they don’t like strong winds, so choose a sheltered spot for them.
They do well in average humidity, although they are used to the damp conditions of their natural habitats.
Cyclamen coum Care
Fertilizer
These hardy plants usually don’t need fertilizer when grown in the ground. However, some gardeners like to feed them a couple of times during the growing season with a half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer.
If you’re growing Cyclamen coum in containers, applying a slow-release fertilizer just before new leaves start to grow each year can be helpful.
Repotting
If you’re growing Cyclamen coum in containers, use a well-draining potting soil.
You’ll need to water them more often than plants in the ground. These slow-growing plants are fine being a little rootbound, so you won’t need to repot them too often.
If you see roots growing out of the bottom of the pot and the soil isn’t absorbing water well, it’s time to repot.
Do this during the summer when the plant is dormant, and choose a container that’s 1 to 2 inches wider in diameter, but not more. A container that’s too big will keep the soil too wet, which can cause the tubers to rot.
Pests and Diseases
This tough plant doesn’t usually get many pests or diseases. However, sometimes, aphids, thrips, cyclamen mites, and even slugs or snails can damage the plant.
Check your plants regularly for pests so you can deal with any problems early. Spraying with water or insecticidal soap is often enough to control pests.
How to Get Cyclamen Coum to Bloom
When Cyclamen Coum Bloom
It usually blooms from January to March. In some areas, they can bloom as early as late December and may last until April. These hardy flowers are great for brightening cold, gray winter gardens. If conditions are good, each plant can bloom for up to five weeks, and they don’t need to be deadheaded.
What Do Cyclamen Coum Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Cyclamen coum have small, butterfly-shaped flowers with rounded petals. The flowers are usually white or pink, but they can also be purple. They don’t have a scent but are still very pretty.
How to Promote More Flowers in Cyclamen Coum
If your Cyclamen coum isn’t blooming well, try these tips:
- Don’t overwater, especially during the summer dormancy period.
- Use a fertilizer with more phosphorus than nitrogen to encourage flowers instead of leaves.
- Avoid too much direct sun, but make sure it’s not too shady, as this can reduce blooming.
Cut off dead or yellowing leaves and stems to help the plant focus on healthy blooms.