What kind of plant is cyclamen? Getting to know the bulbous plant cyclamen

Other names for cyclamen

Radish begonia, rabbit ear flower, rabbit flower, first-grade crown, bonfire flower, flipped-petal lotus

Morphological characteristics of cyclamen

Cyclamen is a bulbous flower; its tuber is flattened and spherical, usually around 4-5 cm in diameter, with a corky skin, brown in color, slightly flattened at the top, and the leaves and flower scapes emerge at the same time from the top of the tuber.

The petiole is about 5-18 cm long; the leaf blade is ovate-cordate, 3-14 cm in diameter, slightly acute at the tip, with finely crenate margins, relatively thick in texture, dark green above, and often with pale markings.

Its flower scape is about 15-20cm tall and does not curl when in fruit; the calyx usually splits to reach the base, with lobes triangular or oblong-triangular, entire; the corolla is white or rose-red, with a deep purple throat, the tube nearly hemispherical, the lobes oblong-lanceolate, slightly acute, without auricles at the base, 3.5-5 times longer than the tube, strongly reflexed.

Growth habits of cyclamen

Cyclamen likes warmth, fears heat, is relatively cold-tolerant, and can withstand low temperatures of 0°C without freezing. It grows best in a cool environment and in fertile sandy loam rich in humus.

September to February is its growing season, and it is semi-dormant in summer. The most suitable temperature for winter growth is 12~16°C; to promote flowering, the temperature is controlled at 18~22°C. When the temperature is below 5°C, the plant grows slowly and the flower color becomes dull.

The flower language of cyclamen

The flower language of cyclamen is introversion. Cyclamen was mostly wild in the past; although it is beautiful when cultivated in a greenhouse, its vitality is fragile, so its flower language is introversion.