Cyclamen hederifolium Album

Cyclamen hederifolium 'Album' is the white flowered form of this small tuberous perennial whose Latin name is Cyclamen hederifolium or C. neapolitanum. Perfectly adapted to Mediterranean summers, which allow its tuber to mature in dry soil, this small plant awakens with the first rains at the end of summer, in the form of small white flowers appearing above the marbled green and silver foliage. It will form a remarkable carpet from autumn to the end of the following spring. Cyclamen hederifolium 'Album' quickly naturalises in shaded or semi-shaded dry areas at the base of trees and shrubs, semi-shaded rockeries, and along pathways... Always in well-drained soil and away from scorching sun.

Cyclamen hederifolium Album, the Ivy-leaved Cyclamen, is native to Southern Europe. In the wild, it is found in undergrowth and under bushes, in rocky and often limestone soil. 

It is a perennial herbaceous plant with a wide and flattened cork-like tuber, equipped with lateral and upper roots. Its foliage develops after flowering, in a small creeping tuft measuring 10 cm (4in) in height, consisting of triangular leaves with dentate margins, which are thick and leathery. Their size varies from 3 to 8 cm (1 to 3in) in length. Each leaf is different, more or less marbled with tender green to dark green and silver-white, but all show a purple reverse. Flowering occurs in late summer, from August to October-November depending on the regions and climatic conditions. Each tuber produces several small flowers carried by a peduncle 10-15 cm (4-6in) above the ground. The flower, measuring 1 cm (1in) to 1.5 cm (1in), consists of 5 petals turned back and a corolla of 5 petals fused in the centre. A small darker spot is visible at the base of this pure white flower. The fruit is a globular capsule with a corkscrew-like pedicel that is very effective for burying it underground where its fresh seeds will be released. This plant self-seeds with the help of ants that transport the seeds.

Plant Cyclamen hederifolium Album as a carpet of plants. They will multiply on their own over the years, forming unforgettable carpets in dry and shaded areas of the garden that are difficult to design. It is a perfect plant to embellish the base of a deciduous tree (Montpellier maple, pubescent oak) in very rocky soil. It is resistant to cold, but its tubers dislike excessive moisture, both in winter and summer. It will find its place in a semi-shaded rockery, in the company of, for example, Anemone blanda. To enjoy a double flowering, mix them with Cyclamen coum, which will bloom in spring.