Cyclamen coum Hybrids are a dainty group of flowering tuberous plants - though they are often referred to as cyclamen coum bulbs - with flowers ranging from white, through various pinks and into deepest carmine red. They tend to self seed themselves, so be careful of any 'weeding' you may do around the plant. Do not hoe, or when they are dormant, you cane accidentally scalp the top of the corm - taking off the flower buds in the process.
Cerise coloured flowers
They have attractive leaves - normally smooth-edged and rounded, being dull green with silvery markings. Cyclamen hederifolium is the one with the 'ivy-like' leaves. Cyclamen coum bulbs will show on the surface slightly more than those of Cyclamen hederifolium.
Cyclamen coum bulbs will grow in a rock garden, or raised bed - not great lovers of wet conditions - and are particularly suited at the front of shrub borders (Tucked away beneath some deciduous shrub). A great way to herald the Spring or take away the winter blues.
A good carpeting plant, but should not be considered as a ground-coverer of weeds. The fact that they seem to do best in 'bare' soil is simply because not much else will grow well in the late winter is such conditions that Cyclamen coum enjoys.
This picture of Cyclamen coum is approx 2 times life-size
Cyclamen coum Hybrids are not the normal 'pot plant' cyclamen which is not hardy, though they are being planted out increasingly in sheltered positions. Cyclamen coum is a hardy variety which can stay in the garden border for ever if required. Unlike some of the other hardy cyclamen, it flowers in late winter/early spring with the foliage showing. Other hardy Cyclamen such as the Cyclamen neapolitanum (C. hederifolium) flower in the Autumn - before the foliage grows through.
The best effect I have seen, is a drift of these plants beneath the dense shade of a Cedar tree.