Cyclamen bloom sequence and Thanks!

Laura & Dave toadlily@olywa.net
Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:27 PDT
  Now it's my turn to be surprised!  Jane McGary wrote that C. 
purpurascens doesn't "flourish or flower" for her.  I live about 120 
miles to the north, although at a lower elevation, and have several 
different seed raised accessions  flower and thrive. They are in a 
raised bed, in afternoon shade with no protection from the elements 
other than that partially provided by the outer branches of two large 
trees (one pine, one Douglas Fir).  I don't let the bed dry out 
completely, as other plants need the summer moisture (Eastern Trillium, 
young Western Erythronium and several clumps of Clintonia andrewsiana).  
The Cyclamen go dormant for about a month in mid to late summer, then 
announce their reappearance with a wonderful fragrance.
  I also grow C hederifolium, cilicium, coum, repandum, graecum,  
pseudibericum and intaminatum outdoors.  The C. hederifolium and cilicum 
bloom in early fall, just after the purpurascens.  Various clones of 
Cyclamen coum iare fowering here from late January thru March.  The 
other species are either too young to bloom (pseudibericum and 
intaminatum, or I haven't quite got them figured out yet (repandum and 
graecum).
  I have several more species and subspecies in my window box/cold 
frame, but the only one old enough to bloom is C. creticum, which has 
been in flower for since the last week of February.

I think this would be a great time to again offer thanks to all of you 
who have donated seeds to the Bx!  Some of these Cyclamen, and a whole 
host of other species in many genera are flowering this year for the 
first time, many after a 3, 4 or 5 year wait.  To say that I'm thrilled 
by each new appearance simply doesn't do it justice.  With good luck and 
cooperative growing conditions, I should be able to return more seed for 
plants I was lucky enough to receive, but that others may still want.

Dave Brastow
Tumwater, Washington - 7A


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