Halios Timboon Curly Cyclamen

Halios Timboon Curly Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum 'Halios Timboon Curly') is a compact winter flowering plant with fringed, twisted petals that catch the light in a way plain cyclamen do not. Plants sit at about 25cm tall and 30cm across, and the Halios Curly range runs through white, pink, red and purple. It is what to reach for when a balcony or windowsill has to carry colour from autumn to early spring.

Why you'll love it

• Petals with real texture. The Curly form twists and ruffles each petal, giving the flower depth rather than a flat face.
• It performs off season. Flowering runs through the cold months, filling the stretch of the year when most flowering plants shut down.
• Foliage worth keeping. Heart shaped leaves marbled in silver and deep green hold the pot together between flushes.
• Small and thrifty with water. A 25cm plant that tolerates dry spells suits a balcony where nothing gets watered every day.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. One plant to a 150mm to 200mm pot, or a run of three at 15cm centres in a trough for a longer display.

Balconies and courtyards. A sheltered spot with morning light and afternoon shade is close to ideal. They dislike reflected heat, so keep them off a west facing concrete edge.

Borders and edging. Set 25cm apart along a shaded path or beneath deciduous trees in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens.

Growing Timboon Curly Cyclamen in Australia

Position and climate. Cool and bright rather than hot and sunny: part shade outdoors, indirect light indoors. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, tolerates light frost only, and struggles where summers are humid.

Soil. A gritty, free draining potting mix. Sit the tuber so its shoulders show above the surface, because burying the crown is what causes most rot.

Water and feed. Water into the saucer or around the rim, never over the centre of the plant. Let the surface dry between waterings, and add a half strength liquid fertiliser every two weeks while it is flowering.

Grooming and dormancy. Twist spent flower stems and tired leaves away at the base instead of cutting them, which reduces rot. From late spring the plant dies down for a summer rest.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in a single size, a tube. That means a young plant with a modest rosette of leaves and no flowers on arrival, ready to pot into a 150mm container, where it builds a full crown over its first season. This variety is supplied across the Halios Curly colour range, so the flower colour you receive may be white, pink, red or purple.

Cyclamen dislike heat in transit more than cold, so a few soft leaves after a hot run are normal and firm up within days. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants suited to balconies
• Halios Curly Flame Cyclamen if you want red specifically
• How to repot a plant properly
• Browse indoor flowering plants

Common questions

What colour will mine be?

It comes from the Halios Curly range, so it may be white, pink, red or purple, and we cannot guarantee a particular shade. Buyers who need one colour should pick a named single colour cyclamen.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The tuber holds saponins that are toxic to cats and dogs, and dogs that dig are the usual problem. Keep pots up on a bench or a plant stand.

How long does it flower for?

Several months in a cool position, typically autumn until early spring. Warmth ends it early, so a heated room or hot balcony cuts the display short.

What do I do with it over summer?

Nothing, which surprises people. Once the leaves yellow, stop watering, move the pot somewhere dry and shaded, and start again in autumn when fresh shoots appear.