Purple cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens)
Care, watering, light and tips for Purple cyclamen on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Primulaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Purple cyclamen
Cyclamen purpurascens, also known as European Cyclamen, is a small, tuberous perennial plant cherished for its fragrant, purplish-pink flowers that bloom from late summer into autumn. Its leaves, often marbled with silvery patterns, are attractive even when not in flower. It is ideal for shady rock gardens, under deciduous trees, or in pots on cool patios.
Native range
Central and Eastern Europe, from eastern France to Poland and Bulgaria.
Care tips
It thrives in partial to full shade and well-drained, humus-rich soil. Keep the substrate slightly moist during the growing and flowering period, reducing watering when the plant goes dormant. A common mistake is overwatering during dormancy, which can lead to tuber rot. It does not tolerate excessive heat and dryness.
How to save a dying Purple cyclamen
- Warning signs
- Yellow, soft leaves, drooping stems.
- First aid
- Remove wilted leaves, check drainage, reduce watering, ventilate.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and poor ventilation, rots the tuber.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if the tuber is not soft and rotten.