Winter and Spring Flowering Cyclamen Coum

Cyclamen Coum are winter and spring flowering Cyclamen. They are tuberous perennials, very similar to bulbs, and as a perennial they will return each year. They are easy to grow, and fully hardy as the image left shows the C.coum in the snow.

Their flowering period is ideal for planting with snowdrops and crocus for a really bright, early spring display. The leaves are green and silver with flowers in shades of pink, magenta and white. Cyclamen Coum grows and flowers best if planted in semishade, and in humus rich soil. This variety of Cyclamen will grow in any type of soil except waterlogged soils.  Note also C. Coum is not tolerant of very dry soils, distinguished from the autumn flowering Cyclamen hederifolium. You can grow C.Coum under trees, just not in the driest of soils whereas C. hederifolium will grow in full shade and dry soil. 

Plant tubers close to the surface, at maximum depth of 5 m and spread around 10cm apart. Small dainty plants, Cyclamen Coum grow to around 10cm. 

After flowering, the leaves will die back, and the tubers are dormant over summer. Before they die back completely, and whilst you still know where they are planted, it is a good idea to mulch (leaf mould is ideal) to prevent the tubers from drying out over summer. 

It is not recommended to plant Cyclamen hederifolium with Cyclamen Coum because the latter, C. coum is too dainty for the C. hederifolium, which will tend to smother it.