Cyclamen coum Album Tuber

Cyclamen coum 'Album' is a white form of cyclamen from the island of Cos. It is one of the most resistant and easiest species to grow. Variable in its appearance, there are also lovely forms with pink flowers, all of which are invariably adorned with a small purple spot at the base. This hardy plant blooms in winter, close to the ground, bringing colour to the garden when all other flowering plants are resting. Its beautiful small round foliage is dark green marbled with silver-grey. The foliage appears in autumn and persists until the end of spring and then disappears and goes dormant in summer. Plant it in semi-shade or shade under trees, along paths, and in shady rockeries, where it will slowly spread to form a delightful carpet.

Cyclamen coum is a small perennial plant with a tuberous root belonging to the Primulaceae family. It is not native to the island of Cos, Greece, but rather to the mountains of Bulgaria, Turkey, and Lebanon, corresponding to the region of Eastern Cilicia, where it is usually found in shaded areas. This small species measures about 10cm (4in) in height.

The tubers of Cyclamen coum 'Album' are rounded and compressed, measuring up to 6.5cm (3in) in diameter. They are covered with a smooth and velvety 'skin', as are the roots coming from their centre and base. The foliage generally develops in autumn, after a dry summer. In cool and humid climates, it may sometimes only appear at the same time as the flowers, in January-February. The rounded leaves measure about 4cm (2in) in diameter. The colour of the leaves can be a shiny dark green, a silver-grey, or show green-silver macules. Their undersides are purple. The foliage disappears and the plant goes into dormancy in June, when the soil is dry.

Flowering takes place from January to April, depending on the climate, following that of Cyclamen cilicicum and the autumn-flowering cyclamen from Naples. The pointed flower buds, initially lying on the ground, straighten up on reddish peduncles. Each flower measures about 1 to 2cm (1in) long. They consist of 5 rounded white petals, curved backward. They show a small purple spot at the base of the petals. After pollination, the flower gives way to a small round fruit, with the floral stem spiralling downwards to allow the fruit to reach the ground. Ants, which delight in their sweet flesh, disperse the seeds.

Plant Cyclamen coum 'Album' with the pink forms to create a carpet. They will multiply on their own over time, forming unforgettable carpets in shady and dry areas of the garden, which are difficult to landscape. It is a perfect plant to enhance the base of a deciduous tree in woodland soil. It is resistant to cold, but its tuber fears excessive humidity, both in winter and summer, and does not tolerate complete drying out in summer. It will find its place in a semi-shady rockery that is not too dry, in the company of Anemone blanda and liverworts, for example. To enjoy a double flowering, mix them with cyclamen from Naples, which bloom in autumn.