I can hardly call this a new cyclamen, it’s been growing in this spot for at least a year and a half and prior to that spent about three years in a pot, slowly growing along. But it’s my first cyclamen purpurascens to bloom from seed, and that’s big and new, and of course I’m pleased 🙂
Cyclamen Purpurascens is the only one of my hardy cyclamen which keeps it’s leaves year round and blooms mid summer. I’m looking forward to seeing more leaves and flowers in the future as these little guys settle in.
I can’t blame the plant for its tardiness, it was all me when it came down to trouble with this species, mostly because I think I over-pampered the poor thing. C. purpurascens is one of the hardiest of the cyclamen and I think when I put it under lights for the winter it would have rather just sat out and braved the cold.
So I finally followed some advice and they all get the tough love now. Seed pots go outside and even potted plants sit out somewhere sheltered from the snow. No complaints yet although I have little hope for the other 4 year old who froze away last winter in a more exposed location and hasn’t been seen since. Four years down the drain, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
sorta like suburbia 
Hey, congratulations! Hope this one makes it through the winter!
Thanks, after last winter’s test it should be able to handle anything nature throws its way!
Cyclamen are such pretty plants, they probably need some dry cold to do well as they mostly come from the mountains in Turkey where the summers are hot but winters are very cold. Maybe the one you lost got waterlogged, they don’t like to stand in moist or wet soil.
It’s possible, but I read this is more of a woodland type, and maybe the spot I had it in was just too exposed. Many of the cyclamen died back this winter, but I thought this one would have come back by now…. who knows, maybe there’s still hope!
But even woodland would mean dry, wouldn’t it?
Yes, woodland could be dry, but these seem to grow better in year round moisture with deep leaf mould and not quite the dry extremes other cyclamen seem to shrug off. But you’re right in that even then, winter wet would not be appreciated.
All that said, I just checked on my neglected seedling pots and even though my other purpurascens seedlings are bone dry, they still seem fine. I should water them this evening before I tempt fate…..
Your little one is a beauty! I love those leaves! I can never remember to get out at the right time to collect seed, but if you ever do get any from this one I would love to try a couple!
I’ll try! It’s been a bad year for blooms and seed, the winter wiped out most of them (seeds that is) and like you I never remember to go looking for them. I’ll keep my eyes open for anything.
I love the leaves too. I would grow them all in pots if I could, so much easier to look them over closely that way!
What a pretty one. I am going to have to look out for it.
I am always pleased and sad to see my Cyclamen hederifolium coming into bloom as they are now. They are such a lovely sight but on the other hand they mean that summer is coming to an end.
I agree. I hate to even think of summer ending, but cyclamen and colchicums make me dread the change just a little bit less. Still I would rather not see them yet…
Well, bully for you for growing from seed. My C. purpurascens was purchased from the late, great, Seneca Hill Perennials.
Ahhhhh, lucky you. I was only just getting into cyclamen when Seneca closed. I was nearly tempted to buy a few of the clearance trays which were offered in the last months, but never thought I would need that many! Silly me 🙂
Did your plant ever lose all its leaves over winter?
Hmm. I think so but I didn’t really pay attention. It was one of the last places the snow finished melting.
Nice you have the one from seed. I have one growing in my garden that must have come from seed – where the other one passed on over winter. It just popped open this year. I did not get even a chance to “over-pampered the poor thing”. I think it just might come inside this winter though. It is like a stray dog one finds and feels sorry for.
I feel the same way, I feel like taking them in and out of the harshest weather can be nothing but good, so as always I’ll hold on to a few pots of c. coum and hederifolium for the winter.
Well done! None of the plants I started from seed last year amounted to anything. I do have some seed left so I may try again–I wonder what I did wrong. Send me your best tips. 🙂
I didn’t want to talk about last winter’s seedling pots….. I think there was a problem with my soil mix since I had so many failures. My cyclamen showed signs of sprouting but then unexpectedly died just as the first one or two broke through the surface. I shook off the gravel a few weeks later and nothing seemed left of all the swelling, healthy seeds and seedling sprouts. This happened to several pots.
Other cyclamens did fine, just the new seeds….. and come to think of it the repotted plants didn’t do all that great either, one even died. I really think there was a problem with the soil I used.
Now is actually a good time to seed them out again. Just cover them in gravel and leave the pots outside. When temperatures drop they should start to sprout!
Love the foliage on that one. Good luck getting it through the winter.
Thanks, I have my fingers crossed that it’s now settled in.