Tianis Cyclamen

Tianis Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum 'Tianis') is a mini cyclamen that flowers through the cold months, when almost nothing else in a pot is doing anything. Plants stay compact at roughly 200mm tall and 200mm wide, with silver marbled leaves and upswept petals held clear above them. It is sold as a mixed colour series, so a group of pots gives a spread of shades.

Why you'll love it

• Colour when the garden is quiet. It flowers through autumn and winter, when most flowering plants have stopped.
• Small enough for anywhere. At 200mm by 200mm it fits a windowsill, a step or the front edge of a shaded bed.
• Foliage worth looking at. The heart shaped leaves are marbled with silver, so it stays decorative between flushes.
• Mixed colours in every batch. The Tianis series covers whites, pinks, reds and bicolours.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 150mm to 200mm pot is plenty. Three grouped on a step give far more impact than one on its own.

Indoors. A cool, bright room with indirect light keeps the flowers coming for weeks. Warm rooms and heater vents shorten the display.

Borders and edging. Plant 200mm apart along the front of a shaded bed for a low ribbon of winter colour. Mark the spot before they die down, so nothing gets dug up in summer.

Growing Tianis Cyclamen in Australia

Position and climate. Cool and bright, with indirect light indoors or partial shade outdoors. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and tolerates light frost only. Tropical and subtropical gardens are too humid: the tubers rot over a wet summer.

Soil. Free draining and open, with coarse sand or perlite through a quality mix. Set the tuber with its top level with the surface rather than buried, the single biggest cause of rot.

Water and feed. Water around the edge of the pot or from the base, never over the crown, and let the surface dry between drinks. Feed half strength liquid fertiliser fortnightly in flower, then stop as the leaves yellow.

Pruning and dormancy. Remove spent flowers and tired leaves with a sharp twist at the base rather than cutting, which leaves no stub to rot. After flowering it dies down and rests through summer. Keep it dry and shaded and it returns in autumn.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock, so this is a young plant rather than a flowering specimen in a decorative pot. Depending on the season it may arrive in leaf, in bud, or resting with little showing above the mix.

Pot it up on arrival in a cool bright spot. Expect the first proper flush that autumn or winter, and a heavier one the year after as the tuber builds. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse other indoor flowering plants.
• Find a container in our plants for pots range.
• Get ideas from low growing plants for borders.
• See more options for small gardens.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Cyclamen tubers are toxic to cats and dogs, with the highest concentration underground, so a pet that digs is the real risk. Keep pots off the floor.

All the leaves died off over summer. Is it dead?

Almost certainly not. Cyclamen go dormant in summer and lose their foliage completely. Keep the tuber dry and shaded and new leaves appear as the weather cools.

Can I plant it straight in the garden?

Yes, in a shaded, well drained bed in a cool temperate, warm temperate or Mediterranean climate. Raised beds and rockery pockets beat heavy flat ground, since drainage keeps the tuber sound.

How do I water it without rotting the crown?

Pour around the rim, or stand the pot in a shallow tray of water for ten minutes and drain it. Water sitting in the crown among the leaf stems is what starts the rot.