Cyclamen Page Two: A Visit to Hansen Nursery

It was a lovely January day to visit Hansen Nursery on the balmy Oregon Coast.
Ever since Robin Hansen spoke to the Emerald rock garden chapter several years ago,
I had been wanting to visit the nursery. On that occasion I had purchased some
cyclamen that have enchanted me ever since.

	They each called out, "Take me home!". An incredible variety of leaf form and bloom color on Cyclamen coum. We are enjoying the cyclamen that I purchased for a while on our dining room windowsill. However, those that are hardy will go outdoors where they belong.
	More exquisite than typical florist cyclamen, these C. persicum have endlessly varied leaf patterns. They are largely untried in the garden for hardiness. They are hardy in USDA zone 9. With adaptation, they might stand a zone or two lower. Robin raises every single plant from seed.
More handsome leaf patterns on C. persicum. When reading Christopher Grey-Wilson's book, Cyclamen: a Guide for Gardeners, Horticulturists, and Botanists, I had skipped the chapter on C. persicum. When I got home with my new-found appreciation, I quickly read it.
	Cyclamen rolfsianum is not hardy in the typical western Oregon garden, but definitely worth keeping in a pot. These are stock plants that will produce seed to build a population for future sales. It may take several years from seeds to produce blooming plants. Cyclamen are well-known for their longevity. Some of my C. hederifolium are more than 40 years-old. A couple of years ago I saw a 30 year-old C. rolfsianum, grown in a pot, on display at a rock garden conference.
Ipheon were just starting to bloom. 'Froyle Mill' has rich blue flowers. It does best in a protected spot. How stunning this would be in companionship with both cyclamen and Iris unguicularis, which all bloom at the same time.
	Sunny, the greenhouse supervisor! To my great sorrow, I have just learned that she passed away. May this remain as a tribute to a lovely dog.

Page created January 2004