Metalis Cyclamen

Metalis Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum 'Metalis') is grown as much for its leaves as its flowers. Every heart shaped leaf carries a silver marbled overlay, and at only 25cm tall and 30cm across the whole plant fits a windowsill pot or the front edge of a shaded border. Flowers rise on slender stems through the cool months, in pink to red depending on the batch.

Why you'll love it

• Silver foliage that carries the year. The marbled leaves look good with or without flowers, which is unusual for a flowering pot plant.
• It flowers when nothing else does. Bloom comes through autumn and winter, filling the gap in a cool season garden.
• Small enough for anywhere. At 25cm by 30cm it suits a windowsill, a balcony pot or a low border edge.
• Happy in shade. It fills the shaded positions that defeat sun loving plants.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 150mm to 200mm pot is plenty. Group three for a fuller display and use a free draining mix, because cyclamen rot faster than almost anything else in wet potting mix.

Indoors. A bright, cool room away from heaters suits it best. Warm indoor air shortens the flowering season noticeably.

Borders and edging. In cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens it can go into the front of a shaded bed, planted 25cm to 30cm apart under deciduous trees or a sheltered wall.

Growing Metalis Cyclamen in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade or bright indirect light, out of direct afternoon sun. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and tolerates light frost only. In humid subtropical and tropical areas grow it indoors or under cover and treat it as a seasonal plant.

Soil. A free draining mix with plenty of grit or perlite. Plant the tuber with its top just proud of the surface, never buried, which is the single most common cause of failure.

Water and feed. Water from below where you can, and keep water off the crown. A half strength liquid fertiliser fortnightly while it is in leaf and flower is enough.

Dormancy. As the weather warms the leaves yellow and die back. That is normal. Keep the pot dry and shaded through summer, then resume watering in early autumn.

What to expect when it arrives

Metalis is supplied as tube stock, so you receive a young plant with a small tuber and a few leaves rather than a florist plant in full bloom. That is the trade off: a fraction of the price, and a season of growing before it flowers properly. Pot it up on arrival into a 150mm pot and keep it in bright shade.

Small plants travel well when packed upright. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Every plant is 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
• Compare plants for partial shade
• Choosing the right size pot

Common questions

Is cyclamen safe around cats and dogs?

No. The tuber is toxic to cats and dogs and is the most concentrated part of the plant. Keep pots up off the floor if your pet digs or chews, and wash your hands after repotting.

My plant collapsed over summer. Is it dead?

Almost certainly not. Cyclamen go dormant in warm weather and lose their leaves by design. Keep the pot dry and shaded, resume watering in early autumn, and new leaves should follow within a few weeks.

What colour will the flowers be?

Metalis is a series rather than a single variety, so plants arrive in pink and red shades and the exact tone varies between batches. The silver marbled foliage is consistent across all of them.

Can I grow it outside all year?

Yes, in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, in a sheltered shaded spot with good drainage. Elsewhere, use a pot you can move.