Do I need to bury the tuber deep?

No, plant the tuber just below the soil surface with the slightly concave side facing up.

Why are my leaves turning yellow?

This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage, which can lead to tuber rot.

Plant guide

Purple cyclamen.

Cyclamen purpurascens

Pronounced SY-kla-men pur-pyoo-RAS-kenz

Also known as Cyclamen, European Cyclamen

European Cyclamen — Photo by Dino Babić (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This lovely woodland plant is known for its fragrant pink flowers that bloom in late summer. It is a hardy perennial that thrives in cool, shaded spots. You will love how its marbled leaves add interest to your garden even when it is not flowering.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Perennial tuber
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 4 to 6 inches
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 9
Bloom time: Mid summer to mid autumn

Care

Plant these in well draining soil and keep them in a cool, shaded area. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate the soil is staying too wet. Ensure the tuber is planted just below the soil surface to prevent rot.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot only when the tuber has outgrown its current container.
Soil: Humus rich, well draining soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -15 to 25°C
Humidity: 50 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for many decades.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
The plant has become overcrowded in the container.
Water sits on the surface for too long.

Safety

People: All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation upon contact.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as ingestion of the tubers can cause severe stomach upset.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant airborne allergy risks associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is not for consumption and contains compounds that can cause digestive distress.

How to identify it

Fragrant pink to purple flowers
Heart shaped dark green leaves
Silvery marbling on leaf surface
Flowers appear before or with leaves

Height: 0.1 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.25m
Leaves: dark green, silver, semi-evergreen
Flowers: pink, magenta, 2 to 3cm
Fruit: brown, late autumn

Problems to watch for

Vine weevil · Larvae feed on the tubers and roots, which can weaken or kill the plant.
Grey mold · Fungal growth often appears on leaves or flowers in overly damp conditions.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your purple cyclamen from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, apply a light mulch of leaf mold to protect the tubers from extreme frost. Ensure the soil does not become waterlogged during winter dormancy.
In containers: They grow well in shallow pots, provided you use a gritty, well draining potting mix.

Seed

Sow fresh seeds in a gritty compost mix.
Keep the pots in a cool, dark place until germination.
Transplant seedlings once they develop their first true leaves.

Division

Carefully lift the tuber during its dormant period.
Use a clean blade to divide the tuber, ensuring each piece has a growth bud.
Replant immediately in well draining soil.

Plant them under deciduous shrubs to provide the dappled shade they crave during the summer months.

Grows well with

Hellebore · They share similar requirements for shade and well drained soil.
Snowdrop · These bulbs provide early spring interest before the cyclamen blooms.

Similar species

Ivy-leaved cyclamen · It is a popular alternative that blooms in autumn with ivy shaped leaves.

Science

Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Cyclamen
Order: Ericales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Central and southern Europe.
Conservation: It is protected in some parts of its native range and should never be collected from the wild.

It grows in cool, shaded woodland areas where it benefits from the protection of deciduous trees.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: woodland gardens, rock gardens, container plants

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 3/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to bury the tuber deep?: No, plant the tuber just below the soil surface with the slightly concave side facing up.
Why are my leaves turning yellow?: This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage, which can lead to tuber rot.

Where the name comes from

Cyclamen comes from the Greek word kyklos, meaning circle, likely referring to the coiled flower stalks. Purpurascens describes the purplish hue often found on the leaves.

Good to know

The specific epithet purpurascens refers to the purple underside of the leaves.
These plants are surprisingly long lived and can thrive in the same spot for decades.
They are one of the few cyclamen species that remain evergreen or semi evergreen through winter.

Also in

Keep your purple cyclamen growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.