Plant of the Month

September’s Plant of the Month

LATIN NAME: Cyclamen hederifolium

COMMON NAME: Ivy-leaved cyclamen

FAMILY: Primulaceae

TYPE: Tuberous perennial

LOCATION AT BLOEDEL RESERVE: Rhododendron Glen

ORIGIN: Mediterranean region

GARDEN USES: Not typical

FUN FACT: The ivy-leaved cyclamen grows leaves, flowers, and roots from the top of its round tuber, which can reach up to ten inches. Its name comes from Latin words meaning “circle,” “ivy,” and “leaf.” Called “sowbread” because pigs eat the tubers. It also symbolizes eternal love in folklore. Want to grow your own? Cyclamen coum blooms late winter to mid-spring, while Cyclamen purpurascens blooms early summer to early autumn.

–Content and photos by Horticulture and Design Intern, Eliza Turrall