cyclamen
Cyclamen L.
A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.
Cyclamens are small perennial plants that grow from rounded underground tubers. Their flowers rise on long stalks, bringing white, pink and purple to woodland and garden settings. Patterned foliage adds a second layer of interest around the blooms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Cyclamen
Botanical name
Cyclamen L. is an accepted genus in Primulaceae. This record describes the genus; its database identity does not identify one particular species. Kew Plants of the World Online: Cyclamen
Recognizing the plant
Leaves vary between rounded, oval and heart-shaped forms. Their upper surfaces may combine green and silver, while the undersides can be green or red. Five petals join at the base of each nodding flower. After pollination, a capsule develops and eventually splits to release the seeds. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Cyclamen
Seasonality across the genus
Wakehurst, southeastern England
At Wakehurst in southeastern England, different species provide successive displays: Cyclamen coum flowers in winter, C. repandum in March and April, and C. hederifolium begins flowering in August. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Cyclamen are seasonal treasures
Native range
The genus is native across much of Europe and the Mediterranean region, including North Africa, and extends east toward Iran. Its natural distribution also reaches northeastern Somalia, beyond the Mediterranean centre of its range. Kew Plants of the World Online: Cyclamen
Ecological relationships
At Wakehurst, ants carry away the sticky seeds released from cyclamen capsules, helping the plants spread through the garden. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Cyclamen are seasonal treasures
Botanical sources
- Kew Plants of the World Online: Cyclamen
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Cyclamen
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Cyclamen are seasonal treasures
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.