Cyclamen graecum usually, but not always, dies if the tuber freezes. It is a crevice plant with a tap root and can be grown in rocks or under some inches of gravel. Different Cyclamen are designed for different habitats as Tony suggests, this shows in their root arrangement. Peter (UK) Different species like to be planted at different depths...C. hederifolium likes to be shallow with the tuber showing, while C. graecum and C. coum like to have the tuber covered several inches deep. Most cyclamen prefer light open shade with even an hour or two of sun, preferably in the morning. We have found that good soil preparation with lots of compost makes a HUGE difference in the performance of cyclamen in the garden. If you just throw them into poorly prepared ground, your results will not be good. Cyclamen need to be dry in the summer during dormancy. We found that this can be best accomplished by putting them near a large tree or shrub. Cyclamen actually don't mind summer irrigation as long as the soil dries quickly. I would encourage folks not to give up after a few failures.