Practical
Plants

Cyclamen hederifolium

Cyclamen

a perennial member of the Cyclamen genus in the family Primulaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.08 m
Spread
0.15 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Poisonous.

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fresh rootstock is a drastic purgative. It should be used with extreme caution[13][9][14]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root[13]. It is applied externally to the bowels to cause purging[13].

Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Purgative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be used as a ground cover, though they will need to be given a mulch of leaf mould in order to keep the weeds at bay when they are dormant in the summer[8].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
S. Europe. Naturalized in Britain[6].
Habitat
Shady woodlands, usually on limestone[11][12][15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[4][5]. Fresh seed germinates in 3 - 6 weeks[4]. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water, sow shallowly and keep in a shady position at 15°c[2]. Germination may be slow and erratic[7]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in April/May. Very easy, the larger tubers can be planted out straight into their permanent positions whilst it is best to pot up the smaller ones and grow them on for a season before planting them out.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a cool habitat and a well-drained humus rich soil[3]. Easily grown in a stony leafy soil in sun or shade[16]. Thrives in the light shade of trees. Tolerates a pH between 5.5 and 8[7]. This species is hardy to about -18°c[7]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. RHS. The Garden. Volume 113. Royal Horticultural Society 1988-00-00

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  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

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  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

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  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

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  9. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  10. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

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  11. Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-900629-78-9

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  12. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

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  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  15. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

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  16. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

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