Firestyle Magazine Issue 7 - Spring 2017 | Page 18

GENERAL INTEREST
This new feature shows you
how to plan and grow some
favourite plants in your garden
How to grow cyclamen
The beautiful cyclamen should have
a place in every garden. Although
a plant that thrives in warmer
climate areas there are several
species that are perfectly hardy in
Britain and will provide colour in the
garden in autumn, winter and early
spring.
The autumn flowering cyclamen
are an irresistible part of the
autumn scene: these include the
most widely grown Cyclamen
hederifolium as well as Cyclamen
purpurascens, graecum,
intaminatum, cilicium and
colchicum.
For winter and spring flowering
cyclamen consider Cyclamen
coum (but also in milder areas
Cyclamen repandum and
pseudibericum) and these
are delightful companions for
snowdrops and other spring
flowering bulbs.
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Regardless of the flowering season,
all Cyclamen have exquisite flowers
and many have distinct fragrances
and, the beautiful foliage of many
of these cyclamen species is
outstanding. summer, and moist during autumn
through to late spring. Above all,
the site must be well drained and
the addition of copious quantities
of shredded leaf mould will create
a perfect medium in which to
grow your cyclamen. Top dressing
with leaf mould and grit during
the dormant season can also be
beneficial. Very little fertiliser of any
kind is required, but do remember
that most cyclamen are dormant
during the summer, so be careful
with the hoe!
Cyclamen are best planted in drifts
for maximum impact. They thrive
around the base of mature shrubs
and trees, but they also are happy
along north facing walls, in stone
troughs and in the rock garden. Once established, hardy cyclamen
should be left undisturbed for many
years. Over time their display will just
keep getting better: the number of
flowers will increase year by year
and young seedlings will appear
and these may be left in situ to
mature, or be transplanted to other
parts of the garden.
As a general rule, cyclamen prefer
a position which is slightly shaded in