Cyclamen bloom sequence and Thanks!
Laura & Dave (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