Cyclamen << SY kluh muhn or SIHK luh mehn >> is the name of a group of attractive plants that grow wild in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Cyclamens are sometimes cultivated outdoors where the climate permits or indoors in pots. The leaves are heart- or bean-shaped and have long petioles (leafstalks). The flowers are white, rose, or purple and have no fragrance. They measure up to 21/2 inches (6.4 centimeters) long.
Cyclamens are cultivated from seeds or bulbs and grow best at temperatures from 50 to 60 °F (10 to 16 °C) in rich, moist soil. Some species flower in the spring, and others bloom in the summer or autumn. Cyclamen plants that are cultivated indoors or in greenhouses may flower in the winter. See also Primrose.
