Halios Curly Cyclamen

Halios Curly Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum 'Halios Curly') is the one to buy when the flower shape matters as much as the colour. Each petal is fringed at the edge and twisted along its length, so a plant at 25cm tall and 30cm across looks far more worked than a standard cyclamen. It flowers through winter, in a range of colours, when a shaded courtyard has least to offer.

Why you'll love it

• Fringed and twisted petals. The curled, ruffled flower is the point of this series, and it holds that form from first bud to last.
• Winter is its season. Flowering runs through the cold months, so it earns its place on a table or a sheltered step when little else performs.
• A useful small size. At 25cm by 30cm it is compact without being tiny, which suits a decorative pot better than the very small florist types.
• Happy in shade. Partial shade is its preference, not a compromise, so it fills positions that defeat most flowering plants.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 150mm to 200mm pot with free draining mix is right. Cyclamen resent an oversized pot, because the extra wet mix around the tuber is what starts rot.

Indoors. Bright light and a cool room, well away from heaters and reverse cycle vents.

Borders, balconies and courtyards. In a shaded bed set plants about 25cm apart so the mounds of marbled foliage meet. On a balcony, a row of three in matching pots reads better than one alone.

Growing Halios Curly Cyclamen in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade, sheltered from hot afternoon sun and drying wind. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and takes light frost only, so in a hard frosting district keep it in a pot that can move under cover. Humid northern summers are too much for it.

Soil. Open, free draining potting mix. Sit the tuber so its crown is just above the surface, never buried.

Water and feed. Water around the rim or from the saucer so the crown stays dry, then pour off anything not absorbed. Through flowering, a half strength liquid feed every two to three weeks keeps new buds coming.

Dormancy. When the weather warms the leaves yellow and fall. That is the plant resting, not dying. Keep the pot dry and shaded over summer, then water again in late summer to bring it back.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tube stock. A tube holds a young plant with a small tuber and a few marbled leaves rather than an open flower, so this is a plant you grow on, not one you unwrap in bloom. Pot it into a 150mm container, keep it cool and shaded, and expect flowers in its first winter.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. A little wilt on arrival is normal and recovers within a day once watered properly. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to get a longer display from flowering plants
• Browse indoor flowering plants
• Plants for partial shade
• Bisous Cyclamen, the compact ruffled alternative

Common questions

How long will it stay in flower?

Several months across autumn and winter if it is kept cool and the crown stays dry. In a heated room the same plant may finish in a few weeks.

Is it toxic to pets?

Yes. The tuber is the toxic part, and it is exactly what a digging dog goes for, so keep the pot raised or out of reach.

Can I plant it straight into the garden?

In a temperate garden, yes, into a sheltered, shaded, well drained bed. In heavy soil or a wet summer climate it lasts longer in a pot where you control the drainage.

Should I remove spent flowers?

Yes, and pull rather than cut. Take the stem near the base and twist sharply so the whole stalk comes away, because a cut stub can rot into the tuber.