Red Persian Cyclamen - Cyclamen persicum

The Cyclamen persicum (Persian cyclamen) red is a highly valued indoor plant for its winter flowering and its silver-marbled leaves. It can be placed on a windowsill without direct sunlight, in a minimally heated room or a conservatory. Easy to care for in a cool atmosphere with moderate watering, it is irreplaceable for enlivening the home from autumn until early spring.

A member of the Primulaceae family, Cyclamen persicum is the species that has produced the majority of florist's cyclamens grown in pots. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean, from the Levant to western Asia Minor, with occurrences in North Africa; it is found in light woodland, scrub vegetation and limestone scree up to around 1,200 m altitude. It is a plant of Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

It is a tuberous perennial that forms a rosette of evergreen leaves in autumn/winter, deciduous in spring and summer. Its leaves are heart-shaped, 3 to 8 cm long, dark green, silver-marbled on the upper surface and tinged green to reddish on the underside. The pedunculate flower stalks are slender; the solitary flowers have 5 reflexed petals and appear mainly from November to March.
In this selection, their colour ranges from carmine red to scarlet. The mature plant reaches 15 to 22 cm in height and spread. After flowering, the foliage yellows and the plant enters summer dormancy.

In indoor cultivation, provide it with bright light, without direct sun, and above all coolness: maintain 13–16 °C in winter (up to 18 °C during the day, 10–15 °C at night), avoiding hot, dry air. Use a very free-draining growing medium, with the top of the tubercle slightly raised. Water moderately during the growth period, by immersing the pot or watering at the edge of the pot to avoid wetting the centre, reduce watering after flowering and keep your pot almost dry during the dormancy period; resume watering when growth restarts, in September. Apply a low-nitrogen fertiliser every two to four weeks during the flowering period.
Caution: this plant is toxic to dogs and cats due to the presence of saponins, particularly in the tubercle: place it out of their reach.

The red florist's cyclamen works wonders in pots, placed on a windowsill or in a conservatory. Pair it with plants that enjoy the same conditions: the florist's azalea ‘Sachsenstern’ (Rhododendron simsii), garden primroses, dwarf ivies such as 'Shamrock' and small indoor ferns for their decorative foliage. These plants bring life and colour into the home.