Wild Cyclamen persicum is usually white to pale pink with a darker mark at the base of each petal, so white is close to the plant's natural look. In pots you will find pure whites, whites with a pink or magenta eye, and ruffled-edge forms. Some of the small ones are lightly scented.
What white asks of you
Pale petals show everything. Water on the flowers can leave marks, so water the soil or the saucer and not the blooms. Remove faded flowers promptly, since old petals brown and spoil a white display. Bright, indirect light and a cool room (around 15 to 18 degrees) keep a plant flowering for weeks. Warm, dry air from a heater causes buds to droop and fall.
Through the seasons
In Australia, white cyclamen are in their prime from autumn into winter, and they are a handy sympathy or Mother's Day gift in May because they flower right then. When summer comes, plants yellow and dry off. Let them rest in a cool, shaded spot with only a trace of water, then repot the tuber in fresh mix as new leaves appear.
Growing outdoors
A pot on a covered verandah or a shady garden bed works in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, but a hot, humid climate like Cairns or Darwin is a poor match. Heat is the main enemy.
Saponins in the tuber
Cyclamen contains saponins, and the tuber holds the highest concentration. The ASPCA lists the plant as toxic to dogs and cats, with vomiting and diarrhoea the usual signs. Contact your vet if your pet has chewed it.
