Ivy-leaved cyclamen

This clump of Cyclamen hederifolium, growing under larch trees here, put up its perky little flowers in August. Six weeks later they have been joined by its beautiful jostling, supposedly ivy-like leaves.

The curiosity is that it is white, and so are its offspring, four clumps nearby, presumably mouse-planted. The original seed must have come under the hedge from next door, where our neighbour Ken Akers has plants both pink (the default colour) and white. White is unusual in this species, so why is this new little family consistently white?

The corms of C. hederifolium have the peculiarity that most of their roots originate on the top; a poor scheme, you might think, when their goal is the earth below, but they thrive in the driest spots, and love it under the larches.

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