Plant the corms of autumn-blooming cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) in late summer to fall. Fall is also the time to plant actively growing, potted cylamen plants.
The advantage of starting with potted plants is that you can observe their leaf patterns, which can vary widely. However, corms are a convenient option when purchasing by mail.
Potted autumn cyclamen should be planted so the crown of the plant sits at the same level it was in the pot. Cyclamen corms should be planted an inch or two beneath the soil surface. Top-dress with leaf litter.
This species of cyclamen typically grows about four inches tall and twice as wide. Flowers emerge in late summer or early autumn, before the leaves. Once the foliage appears in fall, it will last through the winter and spring. Then the plant goes dormant for summer. This plant is winter hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9.
Autumn cyclamen thrive in woodland conditions, with dappled shade and well-drained soil. If the soil is too wet during cyclamen's summer dormancy, they can rot. This makes autumn cyclamen a good choice for dry shade situations or summer-dry regions.
A challenge in growing autumn cyclamen is to avoid digging into them during their summer dormancy. Nestling them between slow-growing perennials, such as hellebores, or between stones can help you avoid slicing them with a wayward spade.
Cyclamen are difficult to start from seed, but if happy they can self-seed to create patches in the garden.
Image by hamon jp - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
