Cyclamen: planting and care

Where to plant cyclamen?

Cyclamens are perennial tuberous plants ideal for brightening shaded areas. They thrive in the shade or partial shade of deciduous trees, in woodlands, at the edge of borders, or at the foot of hedges. Feel free to combine the Naples cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium), which flowers from late summer to autumn, with the Coum cyclamen (Cyclamen coum), which blooms from winter to spring, for an almost continuous flowering from September to April.

Cyclamens tolerate the dry shade of old trees well, where few plants survive. In fact, they are one of the few plants capable of enduring this challenging condition without suffering. However, their preferred environment remains a cool, humus-bearing woodland, where the soil stays cool without excess moisture.

The Naples cyclamen and the Coum cyclamen are hardy and can withstand frost down to -15°C. In contrast, the florist’s cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum), which is not hardy, must be protected from the cold.

Cyclamens adapt to different types of soil but prefer light, rich, and well-drained soil. If your soil is too clayey, lighten it with leaf mould or sand to prevent stagnant moisture, especially in winter.

When to plant cyclamen?

Cyclamens are planted from July to October, ideally before the onset of the first flowering and cold weather. This period allows the tubercles to establish well in still warm soil.

How to plant cyclamen?

If the tubercle is a bit wrinkled, soak it for a few hours in lukewarm water to rehydrate it before planting. Here are the steps to follow:

• Dig a hole about 10 cm deep using a small spade or trowel.
• Place the tubercle the right way up: the rounded side down and the flat side, often slightly concave, up. On this upper side, you may sometimes see signs of vegetation.
• Cover with 3 to 5 cm of soil. Do not plant too deeply, otherwise the leaves and flowers will struggle to emerge.
• Water lightly to encourage rooting.

Be patient: cyclamen can take several months to start. Once well established, it is very resilient and can even withstand droughts thanks to the reserves in its tubercle. It naturalises easily and can multiply over the years.

Don’t worry if the foliage disappears in summer: this is a natural resting phase. It will reappear in the following season.

How to care for cyclamen after planting?

Cyclamens require little maintenance once well established. Here are some simple steps to keep them in great shape:

• Watering: water lightly during the growth period (autumn, winter, early spring), especially if it is dry. Allow the soil to dry on the surface between waterings. During the dormancy period (summer), stop watering, except in cases of prolonged drought.
• Mulching: apply a light mulch of dead leaves or compost to maintain soil moisture in summer and protect the tubercles from the cold in winter.
• Cleaning: regularly remove faded leaves and flowers by cutting them at the base to prevent diseases and encourage new flowering.
• Fertiliser: a light application of compost or organic fertiliser in spring can promote growth, but it is not essential if the soil is rich.

Cyclamens are hardy and robust plants, capable of withstanding difficult conditions. Once established, they naturalise easily and return faithfully each year.

To go further

• Discover our ideas and inspirations for pairing cyclamen in the garden.