Cyclamen coum

One of the brightest jewels of the midwinter border are the deride blooms of this charming rounded leaf cyclamen which emerge in autumn . Incredibly drought hardy (or have them in moist gardens too). However if it is very dry early they will go dormant early too, but reawaken in autumn and flower anyway. Out in early mid July here!  Some say they can’t be mixed with C. hederifolium, but I have drifts of each and both get covered later in spring by all the other bulbs. They still come back year after year. They can grow in  dry sites on rocky ground as long as there are humus pockets with plenty of rainfall when in growth. They can be seen popping out of rocky crevices. From E. Bulgaria to Caucasus and Israel in two distinct bands near the Black Sea and the Mediterranean coast of Israel. They favour woody areas that are cooler and damper than typical Mediterranean conditions, from sea level to 2000m. Completely dry tubers of up to 5cm are dug up and sold.  I think it is best for them to not dedicate quite that much in our gardens. 

Only a couple, more coming but not until next year.