Deep reds are a product of breeding. The wild species is white to pink, but florists' cyclamen now come in scarlet, crimson and cherry as well, with heart-shaped, silvery-marbled leaves that suit the colour well.
The red season
For most of the country a red cyclamen is at its best from autumn to winter, about April to August. This gives it a natural role in Anzac Day arrangements around 25 April and in gifts for Mother's Day, on the second Sunday in May. It is not a Christmas flower in Australia: December is the middle of summer, when cyclamen tend to be dormant or struggling in the heat.
Stretching the display
- Choose a plant with plenty of unopened buds under the leaves, not a fully open one.
- Keep it in bright light in a room that stays cool, under about 20 degrees if possible.
- Water through the saucer, never over the top of the crown.
- Take off finished flower stalks at the base, with a gentle twist.
The summer rest
When leaves yellow at the start of summer, keep the pot on its side in the shade, mostly dry, until autumn. The tuber then wakes up and can be repotted.
Keep the tuber away from animals
The ASPCA lists cyclamen as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and the tuber is the most dangerous part. A pot knocked over and dug into can be risky for a pet, causing vomiting and diarrhoea, and heart or nerve problems after a large amount. Phone your vet promptly.
