Cyclamen: A Guide for Gardeners, Horticulturists and Botanists

Acclaimed horticulturalist, writer and plant hunter, Christopher Grey-Wilson offers this updated and fully revised edition of the classic and definitive work on the genus Cyclamen. A vast range of cultivars are to be found within the 22 species of this primarily Mediterranean genus, with plants to be found in flower twelve months of the year. From white to pink and red and all colours in-between, their pretty recurved petals beg closer inspection whilst the wiry whorls of seeds fascinate adults and children alike. Emerging from under shrubs and trees in the autumn, Cyclamen hederifolium with its ivy-like leaves and Cyclamen coum with its silvery undergrowth of foliage, light up dark corners with a regularity that has ensured their enduring appeal. Amenable to many garden situations and only a few requiring more careful cultivation, they are natural companions to other shade-lovers such as ferns, hostas and lamiums. Cyclamen persicum, the florists' cyclamen which has grown in importance over the last decade or so and is so popular for winter window-boxes, has a large chapter devoted to them, highlighting their popularity by the amount of hybridisation that has been carried out. Whilst a lot of the text is botanically written, the overall picture is that of a useful and indispensable guide to the cultivation of these popular little plants. Informatively written but easy to understand for the lay-person, this work will remain the bible of Cyclamen for a long time still to come. - Lucy Watson