Since Linda says her cyclamen plantings are for "in the winter," I assume she is using Cyclamen coum and perhaps C. repandum. In my experience, these species does not have "different soil requirements" from the usual garden bulbs she mentions. I think that as long as drainage is adequate, these species, especially C. coum, will adapt to almost anything from gritty rock garden settings to stiff clay with a modicum of organic matter. Cyclamen hederifolium is even more adaptable. Here they appear in all kinds of settings thanks to the fact that ants distribute the seeds. They're under big, greedy trees and in the sun, on the steep rock garden and in the hard-packed clay of the lawn. Indeed, C. hederifolium is one of the few plants I recommend to people who want some color under the unfortunately ubiquitous arborvitae hedges. So plant your cyclamen with your Dutch bulbs, Linda! And be sure to let them ripen their seed, and sow it about in early summer. Jane McGary, Portland, Oregon, USA On 10/21/2021 11:19 AM, Linda Press Wulf via pbs wrote: > I’m creating a very long, very narrow, shallow bed, positioned high up alongside a steep driveway. > > I’ll be planting mainly bulbs - daffodils, grape hyacinths, galanthus, chionodoxa, scylla.(Some deer-resistant plants to cover the dying leaves and through the summer.) Then cyclamen in the winter. > > The cyclamen have different soil requirements. What soil mix would you recommend that could cover all the bases? > > Part sun in Zone 10a Mediterranean-style climate in berkeley, Northern California. > North facing > Irrigated > Hard clay and tree roots, below and behind. > Deer — I use Vicks Vapo-rub (!) and rotten eggs with garlic > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>