Metis Summer Cyclamen

Metis Summer Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum 'Metis Summer') is the mini cyclamen bred to keep going once the weather warms. It forms a neat mound about 20cm high and 25cm across, with silver marbled leaves under upswept flowers, and unlike older florist cyclamen it holds up through heat. In a pot by a shaded door it flowers for months.

Why you'll love it

• Bred for heat. The Metis series was selected for warm conditions, so it keeps flowering where standard cyclamen give up.
• Months of flower. Bloom after bloom rises above the foliage through the cooler half of the year, more colour per pot than almost anything its size.
• The leaves earn their keep. Heart shaped foliage marbled in silver and deep green still looks good between flushes.
• It fits small spaces. At 20cm by 25cm it suits a windowsill, a table pot or a narrow border edge.

Where it works best

Pots and balconies. A 150mm to 200mm pot in bright, cool, shaded light is its natural home, indoors or on a sheltered balcony.

Borders and edging. In warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens it edges a shaded bed neatly, planted about 25cm apart.

Indoors. One of the few genuine indoor flowering plants. Keep it in a bright room away from heaters, the usual cause of a sulking cyclamen.

Growing cyclamen in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light and cool air. Outdoors it wants morning sun and afternoon shade. It takes light frost only, so in cold districts grow it in a pot that can shelter under eaves.

Soil. Free draining potting mix, with the top of the tuber sitting slightly proud of the surface. Buried tubers rot, the most common way cyclamen are lost.

Water and feed. Water into the mix around the plant rather than over the crown, and only once the surface has dried. A liquid feed for flowering plants every two to three weeks in bloom keeps the buds coming.

Pruning and dormancy. Pull spent flowers and yellow leaves away at the base with a twist. As the weather warms it slows and rests, so ease off the water, let it sit dry through the hottest months, then start again when new leaves appear.

What to expect when it arrives

Metis Summer is sold as tube stock: a young plant with a small tuber and a handful of leaves, not a finished pot of flowers. Potted up into a 150mm container it bulks up over a couple of months and flowers in its first season. Buying at this stage costs a fraction of a flowering pot.

Tubes travel well because there is little top growth to bruise. Pot up soon after arrival, water once, and keep it out of direct sun for a fortnight. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse indoor flowering plants
• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Plants that suit a balcony
• Choosing the right size pot

Common questions

Is cyclamen safe around pets?

No. The tuber in particular is toxic to cats and dogs, and eating it causes vomiting and, in quantity, more serious effects. Keep the pot up off the floor in a home with a chewing pet.

Why are the leaves going yellow?

Either heat and dry air, or the natural end of the flowering cycle. If it is late in the season, let the plant dry off and rest rather than watering harder.

Will it come back next year?

Yes, if the tuber is kept dry through its summer rest and started again with water when new leaves appear. Treated that way a plant lasts many seasons.

Can I plant it in the garden?

In warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens it works as an edging plant in shade, spaced about 25cm apart. It needs drainage and shade from hot afternoon sun.