Skip to content

Illinois Dunesland Garden Club

Spreading the Love of Gardens Since 1937

Menu
  • Home
    • Newsletters
      • Presidents’ Points
      • Beth’s Corner
        • Projects and Crafts
        • Recipes
      • Midwest Monthly Gardening
        • Ask a Horticulturist
      • Re-Blooming
      • Sunshine
      • Native Plant Nerd
      • View from my backyard
      • Members’ Birthdays
    • IDGC
      • Events
        • Garden Tours
        • Plant Auction
        • Programs
        • Past Events
      • Gardening Resources
        • External Links
        • Tips
      • Members
        • Newsletters
        • Meetings
        • Events
        • Yearbooks
        • Recipes
        • Videos
      • Board
        • Treasurer’s Reports
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Refreshment Committee
        • Past Presidents
      • Facebook
  • April Newsletter 2021
  • Contact Us
    • Join Now
    • Application
  • Videos
  • Past Newsletters
    • September KickOff
    • October 2020 Newsletter
    • November 2020 Newsletter
    • December 2020 Newsletter
    • January 2021 Newsletter
    • February 2021 Newsletter
    • March Newsletter 2021

Cyclamen

Can you tell me what this plant is?

Thanks,
Joan R


Dear Joan,

Thank you for sending your question to “Ask A Horticulturist”.  My name is April M. and I’m a member of the Illinois Dunesland Garden Club and retired Horticulturist from the Chicago Botanic Garden.  As soon as I saw the mottled, heart-shaped leaf I knew what the plant was – a Cyclamen.

I have worked with this plant at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the greenhouse area, Christmas displays and planted them in the summer garden areas, as well as my own home garden.  This plant was originally grown for their blooms and leaves in greenhouses, containers and used as florist plants.  A few years ago, many greenhouse plants were planted outside in the summer and cyclamen were planted in many gardens with varied success.

Cyclamen are usually Zone 7 hardy (don’t like it below 50 degrees) and are about 8 inches tall.  Cyclamen also prefer bright, non-direct sunlight with organic, well-drained soil and don’t like drafts.  Big problem with cyclamen can be root rot because their roots cannot tolerate being in water.  Therefore, wherever you plant cyclamen (either in containers or gardens) you need to be aware of and follow their preferences, so you do not lose the plants.  Be aware that after cyclamen blooms fade you will need to allow the plant to go dormant and allow it to dry out for 2-3 months (which won’t be possible if you put them in your garden- see below on bringing them indoors).  Once it passes its dormant stage (usually September) the plant should start to grow again, then water sparingly (root rot problems) and add fertilizing (low-nitrogen fertilizer every 2 wks.).  There are also many new varieties for sale with different bloom colors and bloom times.  There are even some that are supposed to be able to tolerate Zone 5 weather, but my Zone 5 has not had any such success-Zone 6 may have better results.

Cyclamen

There are some great websites that will give you step-by-step instructions on how to plant and maintain your cyclamen (gardeninknowhow.com is good, as well as doityourself.com seem to be good web sites).  I have planted them outside in summer in garden beds at the Chicago Botanic Garden, as well as my own garden with good results.  Placement is essential to success either in the garden or in a container indoors.  You can lift the tubers out of the garden beds in the fall and planted in potting soil in containers to be overwintered inside following the above directions.  Just remember if you have containers inside put the pot on a tray with pebbles so the pot will not sit in water and place them in bright, indirect sun and not in any draft.

Hopefully you will enjoy your Cyclamen for many years to come.  Just give the Cyclamen its essential needs and you should have success.

Good Gardening to you,

April M.
April – Horticulturist

Archives

Latest from Facebook

3 days ago
Netherlands - Keukenhof 2021 episode 1

One of the most beautiful flower gardens in the world is closed to the public yet again. Lucky for us, we can wander virtually through it in this four part series of short videos shared by the Keukenhof in the Netherlands.
https://youtu.be/qBxvxFzNtOI
... See more

Guitar - Dear Yvonne

View on facebook
3 days ago
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2021 | RoozenGaarde - Mount Vernon , Washington

If you can't get out to the tulip fields, bring them in to you...🌷🌷
https://youtu.be/_28owYiQh5E?t=9

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon, Washington

View on facebook
5 days ago

"Gardens are not made by singing ‘Oh, how beautiful,’ and sitting in the shade." – Rudyard Kipling

How are you celebrating National Gardening Day 2021?

#NationalGardeningDay

View on facebook
5 days ago
Photos from Illinois Dunesland Garden Club's post

Trout Lilies are plants native to Illinois. In places not tilled you might find huge beds of them. These were in a natural area along with glory of the snow and trillium.

View on facebook
6 days ago
Photos from Illinois Dunesland Garden Club's post

April showers bring May flowers☔️ 🌷 - https://mailchi.mp/9099be798af6/april-showers-bring-may-flowers-and-your-april-newsletter

View on facebook
1 week ago
Photos from Illinois Dunesland Garden Club's post

This year my Forsythia & Magnolia tree were beautiful!

View on facebook
1 week ago
Photos from Illinois Dunesland Garden Club's post

See all these flowers? I planted the daffodils, but not even one of the others. Thank you, Mama Nature

View on facebook
« ‹ 1 of 20 › »

Tags

2020 2021 April Article Baking Beth Beth's Corner Birds Birthday Crafts December Dunesland Latest Dirt February flower Garden Gardening Hints Jan January March May Member Midwest Monthly Gardening Milkweed MMG Native Newsletter november October PDF Planting Plants Poem Presidents' Points Projects and Crafts Re-Blooming Recipe Recipes Sandi Seeds September Spring Sunshine Tips Winter

Illinois Dunesland Garden Club 2021 . Powered by WordPress