Cyclamen libanoticum  - The very beautiful Cyclamen libanoticum is probably very rare in the wild, but luckily this species is common in cultivation.

For many years it had a reputation for being difficult, and to a certain extent it is still seen by many as a hard plant to grow well. One problem is that the leaves are often turning yellow when it comes into flower in March. I am now trying to grow it under the benching in the hope this will keep it cool and shaded and therefore stop it going into an early dormancy.

There are a small number of forms in cultivation. The common form grows well from seed and is quite quick to get to flowering size. In warm areas in the UK it can be tried outside (I'm intending to give it a try when I raise some more seedlings). There is another form from an Eliot Hogkin collection. It tends to have narrower petals of a deeper shade of pink. The leaves are glossy and strongly marbled. While the common forms take about 3 years to flower, this form took 5 years and has unfortunately proved to have a far weaker constitution.
 

Please click on the thumbnails for the full sized pictures.

Eliot Hogkin form, with a flower of the "common form" behind it.	This one came from seed labelled "JB", it seems fairly typical. This one has been out for about a week so is still fairly pale.	The "common form". All start of pale pink, and deepen with age, as here