Vibrant Winter Blossoms: Isabel Bannerman's Description of the Year's Initial, Joyful, and Carefree Flowers, Unyielding to Winter's Grasp
Renowned British garden designer Isabel Bannerman, who was granted the Royal Warrant of His Majesty King Charles III in 2024, has shared her insights on growing the enchanting winter flower, Cyclamen coum. Known for its miniature electric-pink flowers that emerge in January, this charming plant is the first and most abundant winter flowers of the year.
Cyclamen coum thrives best in the acid soils typical of Devon and Cornwall. When planted in moist, humus-rich soil with good moisture retention and in dappled shade conditions, it prefers a neutral to slightly acidic pH. To maintain soil nutrients, it is beneficial to fertilize specifically for acid-loving plants. The soil should be kept moist but well-drained to support the plant's slow-growing habit through the winter months when it typically flowers.
Isabel Bannerman plants Cyclamen coum under trees, in grass, and in beds, sometimes with snowdrops and winter aconites. She notes that while winter aconites are more promiscuous self-sowers than C. coum, the latter still adds a touch of magic to her gardens.
Isabel's husband is particularly fond of the deepest magenta flowers of Cyclamen coum. The leaves of this plant are valued by breeders and painters alike, making it a sought-after addition to any garden.
The logic for not growing C. coum and Cyclamen hederifolium together may be due to competition in colonization. C. coum self-seeds less effectively than summer-flowering Cyclamen hederifolium. However, C. coum is still known to produce seeds that are irresistible to ants, which help in their dispersal.
For Cyclamen coum, this dormant period happens in summer. During this time, the flower stems corkscrew down, bearing seeds to the ground.
Lucian Freud repeatedly painted all parts and stages of Cyclamen coum, highlighting its beauty and importance in art as well as nature.
Isabel Bannerman's latest book, A Wilderness of Sweets: Making Gardens with Scented Plants, was published by Pimpernel Press earlier this year. For those interested in viewing her work, Bannerman Design's website is available at bannermandesign.com.
Higher Cheerubeere, a garden in Devon, opens in February for the National Garden Scheme. Jo Hynes, who has devoted 30 years to making a garden in Devon, grows 22 of the 23 known species of cyclamen.
In summary, for Devon and Cornwall acid soils: - Plant in dappled shade (partial shade). - Use humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with slightly acidic pH. - Keep soil moist but avoid waterlogging. - Fertilize with acid-loving plant fertilizer. - Expect slow growth, especially in winter flowering period (December to February).
These conditions replicate the native woodland or shady garden environments that Cyclamen coum naturally thrives in.
Isabel Bannerman's garden design incorporates Cyclamen coum, thriving under trees, in grass, and in beds, sometimes with snowdrops and winter aconites, creating a harmonious lifestyle blend of home-and-garden and gardening aesthetics. Cyclamen coum plants are sought after for their aesthetically pleasing leaves, valuable to both breeders and painters, and their deep-magenta flowers that catch the eye, particularly appreciated by Isabel's husband.
