Vinnie

Cyclamen - pink

Cyclamen persicum

• 
  Easy care
• 
  Low light

• Vinnie likes...
  • 
    A shady spot

    He’s perfect for the shadier spots in your outdoor space. He doesn't like too much sunshine so keep him in a spot that's either full or partial shade.

  • 
    Moist soil

    He likes his soil to stay moist, so try not to let him dry out. Rain will probably water him enough in winter.

  • 
    Deadheading

    Vinnie appreciates a regular deadheading session by removing spent and fading flowers. Simply remove the whole flower stalk, holding it by the base - it should pop off in one fell swoop.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Cyclamen

  Nickname

  Cyclamen persicum

  Plant type

  Outdoor; flowering

  Plant height (including pot)

  20-30cm

  Pet/Baby safe?

  No

  Nursery pot size

  10.5cm

• About cyclamen

  Cyclamen are flowering perennial plants. In the wild, you can find them growing in Northern Africa, then right across to West Asia and Southeast Europe. Because of their heart-shaped leaves, many of the cultures in these parts of the world believe the cyclamen is a symbol for a devoted heart; you might see them planted next to monasteries and Mediterranean churchyards. 

  Cyclamen are a bit different to many other plants; they actually go dormant in the summer and die right down to their tubers (roots) so that you won't see any leaves. Don’t worry though, they will grow back and bloom again with the right care. During the winter months when they're actively growing, try to give them bright, indirect light and keep the soil lightly moist. This will make sure that come spring, they burst into life with new leaves and flowers, often before anything else has even woken up yet. If you're planting your cyclamen in the ground, nature will take care of this for you, but if you're keeping them in their nursery pot or planting them up into a decorative pot, you'll need to keep an eye their sunlight and moisture requirements throughout the seasons.

  Cyclamens sweet-smelling flowers are a treat for the bees, but they’re toxic to both humans and animals if eaten so keep them away from curious mouths.

  Did you know?
  During the Renaissance, the leaves were thought to heal ear aches. Although we haven’t tried it ourselves, we hear it’s best to stick to more traditional treatments.