This species grows naturally in areas around the Mediterranean and is therefore accustomed to hot, dry summers followed by warm, wet winters.
It follows that for these plants to thrive in the garden, the soil needs to be free draining, well ventilated but also sheltered from hard frost.
When planting cyclamen, the flat, round tubers should be planted close to the surface of the soil to prevent them from rotting.
Flowers of Cyclamen graecum appear in autumn to early winter, clearly displaying the characteristic upswept petals and prominent auricles — those small ear-like projections where the petal folds back on itself.
The flowers of this species come in various shades of pink with magenta markings near the centre, but can sometimes be almost pure white with the faintest flush of pink.
Leaves of this cyclamen can be quite variable too — mottled with stunning silver and white markings on top while the undersides are often purple.
Patience is needed to get a colony of this species established.
Cyclamen graecum does produce seed and will slowly spread naturally.
This small patch started with a group of fifteen corms planted nine years ago and is now well established and multiplying nicely.
When cultivating near these plants you do need to take care as tiny seedlings and new tubers can be easily lost.
Other hardy species flowering in the rock garden are the tiny Cyclamen coum and the larger summer-autumn flowering Cyclamen hederifolium.
Garden Life is produced by the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
For further information contact Robyn Abernethy.
