Wonderful Cyclamen

Cyclamen mirabile - mirabile = wonderful.

Cyclamen mirabile is found growing in South-west Anatolia, Turkey, where it grows in Pinus brutia forests and hill slopes with maquis, on limestone, metamorphic and granitic rocks, at altitudes of 400-1600m (1,311-5,245 ft), and flowers from September to November.

It has distinctive, serrated edges to the petals and young leaves are often marked with pink, features which it does not share with the otherwise similar Cyclamen cilicium. Not too difficult to grow, it likes well drained soil in a sunny spot, work some well rotted pine needles into the compost, or scatter them atop the soil and it will be completely at home.