Cyclamen, a plant cherished by many, offers a spectrum of beauty from common winter-flowering varieties to rare, hardy species thriving in challenging garden spots. These delightful plants, members of the primrose family, grow from resilient tubers, showcasing an array of floral forms and leaf patterns. Their journey from wild habitats to cultivated gardens is a testament to their enduring appeal and the dedication of enthusiasts like John Massey, whose pioneering work has made many species accessible today. The plant's history is intertwined with global conservation efforts, notably after the near extinction of certain species, leading to protective measures under CITES. This narrative explores the cyclamen's botanical uniqueness, its ecological interactions, and the specialized care required for its successful cultivation, emphasizing its role as a botanical marvel.
A Detailed Look at the World of Cyclamen and Its Dedicated Cultivators
The enchanting world of cyclamen, a genus boasting 23 distinct species, offers a rich tapestry of botanical wonder. These plants, surprisingly part of the primrose family, owe their resilience to tubers that bravely endure the harsh Mediterranean summers. Their life cycle often begins with the first autumn rains, prompting a burst of blooms, while others prioritize foliage growth, creating a verdant backdrop for spring flowers.
Geographical exclusivity marks several species, such as the autumn-blooming C. cyprium found only on Cyprus, and the spring-flowering C. creticum native to Crete—a phenomenon botanists term endemism. The first cyclamen to grace British gardens was Cyclamen hederifolium in the late 16th century, a species now widely naturalized across southern England, favoring dry, shaded environments. A curious aspect of their propagation involves ants, which are lured by a sticky coating on the seeds, inadvertently aiding in their dispersal far from the parent plant.
Among the myriad of cyclamen varieties, several stand out for their exceptional beauty. Cyclamen graecum is admired for its elegant pink blossoms and unparalleled leaf markings, necessitating a visit to specialized nurseries for selection. Cyclamen hederifolium ‘Stargazer’ captures attention with its unusual upward-facing flowers, a trait irresistible to horticulturists. Cyclamen coum ‘Tilebarn Elizabeth’ is celebrated for its delicate pale-pink flowers, darker petal edges, and distinctive pewter foliage. For a deeper hue, Cyclamen hederifolium ‘Red Sky’ offers a striking deep crimson, while the Silver-leaved Group of C. hederifolium presents stunning silvery-grey leaves that beautifully accentuate their blooms.
Despite their diminutive size, rarely exceeding four inches in height, cyclamen flowers create a significant visual impact. An established C. hederifolium plant can proudly display up to a hundred cheerful, nodding flowers with their characteristic upright, often twisted petals. Following their bloom, many species exhibit a peculiar coiling of their stems, pulling the seedpods downwards to mature near the tuber, where ants readily discover and distribute the seeds.
Historically, cyclamen have been highly coveted by plant collectors. This led to extensive harvesting of wild plants from Eastern Mediterranean regions for export to Dutch distributors. A notable incident in 1969 saw the rare Turkish species, C. mirabile, almost eradicated due to misidentification, precipitating the 1975 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which now protects all wild cyclamen species from collection.
In England, John Massey stands as a preeminent cultivator of hardy cyclamen. Recognizing the opportunity presented by CITES, he embarked on a professional cyclamen growing venture five decades ago. Through diligent research and hands-on experience at his Ashwood Nurseries near Kidderminster—renowned also for hellebores and hepaticas—Massey mastered the art of cyclamen cultivation. His success is underscored by numerous RHS gold medals, including a rare 'double gold' in 1994 for both hellebores and cyclamen. Massey’s dedication has been instrumental in making a wide array of cyclamen species available to enthusiasts today.
Massey's profound knowledge extends to the lineage of every plant in his collection, tracing their ancestral origins. A unique form of C. coum, featuring a Christmas tree-shaped green patch on its silver leaves, harks back to a 1963 botanical expedition to Iran. Many of his original stock plants continue to thrive in vast glasshouses and polytunnels dedicated to enhancing their diversity and commercial production. Over the years, Massey, with the keen assistance of Hayden Worton, has meticulously selected and developed new cyclamen strains from exceptional seedlings, primarily focusing on the robust and widely adaptable C. hederifolium and C. coum.
Both Cyclamen hederifolium and C. coum present pink flowers and dark green leaves, though the latter often features grey marbling. Both species also offer exquisite white forms, some with a delicate pink 'nose,' alongside darker pink variants. The leaves themselves display immense variability in pattern and shape; C. coum typically has kidney-shaped leaves, while C. hederifolium usually exhibits heart-shaped foliage, with some forms appearing more slender or arrow-patterned. Even planting just a pair can reveal a remarkable diversity among their offspring.
Controlled cross-pollination further contributes to the creation of novel flower shapes and consistent colors from seed. C. hederifolium ‘Ashwood SilverRose’, a new strain, boasts silver leaves paired with dark-pink flowers. While most seedlings bloom in their third year, Massey ensures a plant is true to type before its release, a careful process that even a stray bumblebee can disrupt.
While C. coum and C. hederifolium are hardy across the British Isles, C. cilicium and C. repandum thrive in much of southern England. Massey also cultivates C. graecum, C. intaminatum, C. purpurascens, and C. pseudibericum in protected corners of his West Midlands garden. Many other species, particularly the more spectacular ones like the robust C. africanum from Algeria and the rugged C. rolfsianum from Libya, require the shelter of an unheated or frost-free greenhouse.
When planting, cyclamen tubers generally prefer to be placed just beneath or even on the soil surface, quickly finding their optimal depth. Though small initially, they expand significantly with age; a centenarian C. hederifolium can develop a tuber the size of a dinner plate. While cyclamen are often best grown alone, perhaps beneath deciduous trees where fallen leaves provide a natural mulch, C. coum pairs beautifully with snowdrops, as both bloom in late winter.
The journey through the world of cyclamen reveals not just botanical intricacies but also a tale of human dedication and environmental stewardship. From the meticulous cultivation efforts of growers like John Massey to global conservation initiatives, these charming plants continue to captivate and inspire. Their resilience, diverse forms, and subtle beauty serve as a reminder of nature's artistry and the importance of preserving biodiversity for future generations to appreciate. The story of cyclamen is one of enduring fascination, encouraging us to look closer at the delicate wonders that enrich our gardens and our world.