Cyclamen Persicum and Schlumbergera blooms

Many People don’t realize that some cyclamens have wonderful scents–

This is Cyclamen persicum, the one commonly found at florists and nurseries, and this particular plant has the most amazing aroma–

Cyclamen plants grow from a tuber, much like a potato–This beautiful genus is from the Mediterranean region of Europe where the summers are hot and dry and the winters cool, but moist–

Due to these conditions, they go dormant during the summer, and come back in the fall–The leaves will start to fade after flowering, and water should be reduced–

When they show signs of growth in the fall, regular watering should resume–They like bright, indirect light–Getting the crowns wet should be avoided to prevent rot–It’s best to water from the side, keeping them evenly moist, but not too wet–

Cyclamen have been hybridized and bred a long time–There are many hybrids, species and cultivars available–Like certain roses in the florist trade, many are unscented,  but you can still find ones like this that are amazingly scented–Imagine the smell of hyacinths mixed with that of lily of the valley–For more information on cyclamens, check out this great website: The Cyclamen Society —

On another note, two of my Schlumbergera seem to be confused and have produced a few blooms:

It’s not unheard of for them to have a second flush, but it’s later than I would have imagined it happening–The peach one above still has the ripe seed pods from when I cross-pollinated it with the fuschia one pictured below last year (pink berries to the left)–I will sow these in the spring–

Still, I am happy to see flowers on any plant whenever they decide to appear–