Dragon Blue Florist Cyclamen

Dragon Blue Florist Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum 'Dragon Blue') is a compact cyclamen with upright stems of long, satin-petalled flowers in an unusual lilac-purple. It forms a rounded clump about 40cm tall and wide of heart-shaped dark green leaves marked with silver. Its breeders bill it as the first blue F1 cyclamen, though the colour is really a vivid lilac-purple.

Why you'll love it

• An unusual colour. Cyclamen usually flower in white, pink and red. Dragon Blue arrives in a vivid lilac-purple that stands out.
• Handsome leaves. Heart-shaped dark green leaves marked with silver, and pink on the reverse, look good even when the plant is not in flower.
• Cool-season flowers. Upright stems carry long satin petals through the cooler months, when colour is welcome.
• Compact. At 40cm tall and wide it fits pots, window sills and the front of a border.
• Versatile. Use it as indoor decor, as potted colour or in patio pots.

Where it works best

Patio pots and indoor colour. A pot in bright dappled light, on a verandah or beside a bright window, gives the best display. Use a pot with drainage holes.

Front of a shaded border. Plant 30cm apart in a sheltered spot with part shade, where the purple blooms and silver leaves stand out.

Balconies and courtyards. Compact and tidy, it dresses a sheltered balcony or courtyard through the cooler months.

Growing Dragon Blue Florist Cyclamen in Australia

Position and climate. Bright dappled light or part shade, in a sheltered location. Cyclamen come from rocky hillsides and shady woods across Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and northern Africa, so they like cool, bright conditions. Protect them from frost and grow them where temperatures stay above 5C, which means a sheltered garden spot in mild climates and a bright position indoors elsewhere.

Soil. Plant so the top of the tuber shows above the soil surface, as it does in the tube. Use a free-draining mix.

Water and feed. Water regularly but lightly, and feed fortnightly during the flowering season.

Pruning. No pruning is needed beyond removing spent flower stems and yellowed leaves. Cyclamen grow from tubers and usually go dormant for part of the year, often summer, when they are not flowering. Once the leaves start to yellow or flowering has finished, reduce watering so the plant can dry off and rest.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Dragon Blue Florist Cyclamen as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tube stock is supplied by our grower, so it is not always on hand. A sold out tube means the grower has none right now, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back. Expect a small plant with the top of the tuber at the surface, ready to pot up in bright dappled light and flower in the cooler months.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our cyclamen
• Indoor flowering plants
• Plants for partial shade
• Indoor plant tips for beginners

Common questions

Is it really blue?

Not true sky blue. It is a lilac-purple, though a vivid and unusual one, and photographs struggle to capture it.

What happens in summer?

Cyclamen usually go dormant for part of the year, often summer. Once the leaves yellow or flowering finishes, reduce watering so the tuber can dry off and rest.

Is it safe for pets?

No. The tuber is poisonous if eaten, so keep the plant away from pets and small children.