cyclamen hederifolium-how drought resistant?

Hi,

I noted that in Christopher Lloyds Adventurous Gardener he mentions how wonderfully drought resistant these beauties are.

I have an issue at the base of my leylandii ( still there until I can afford to have it removed), and being a rash sort I spotted some outside our local grocers so I picked up ten of them-£1.50 each so a bargain.


But now, I am wondering-are they truly so very drought resistant as all that?


Any experience with these in a very dry area?

 

They are ideal for growing in the dry under hedges,.

They can be difficult to get established tho'.

 

I'd say drought resistant yes but under a leylandii, perhaps not.

I have a few that self seed and come up in all sorts of places, but under leylandii its not just dry its also dark all year.
I'm not sure on this but I think they would normally grow under trees in very dry conditions in summer, but also damp and bright in winter.

 

It is south facing so it gets the sun, the damp conditions in winter-that will be an issue

Fingers crossed

 

But it should be drier under the leylandii so that might help?

 

I have Cyclamen growing as weeds in my garden. I have no idea where they came from but they keep appearing and they're ok so I leave them be.

When I last checked, I had one growing in cast iron part of my garden (its not really cast iron, but might as well be for how hard it is - it is full of stones and poor soil and hasn't been dug in all the years I've been here). I also have one growing in good soil, under one of my goosegog bushes, and I saw one at the foot of my Leylandii in a spot that is in almost permanent shade, even in winter.

I don't know what variety I have, but I know they must be tough as old boots because I don't look after them and they just grow wherever they see fit, regardless of conditions.

 

They are gorgeous little things-the hope is that they will self seed all over the place.

 

I have no idea if these are much different to cyclamen you use in winter pots etc .... but the ones we have are classed as just 'hardy cyclamen' and need watering regulary.

Only yesterday I went out to find them all wilted and the white/pink flowers gone brown and yet all the rest of the plants are just fine! We have had plently of rain this week too and they were all properly watered the start of the week!!

Like I said, they might be completely different types maybe ... i just know mine are definately not drought resistant !

 

I have planted them out under the leyllandii and will keep a very close eye on them over the next few weeks, only watering when I deem it necessary to. Worth a risk I think.

Thankyou all for your help.

 

My experience with cyclamen is that they are very tolerant of dry conditions but they hate being soaking wet. Yours should be fine.

 

I find that cyclamen are tough and very tolerant of drought. They are however not tolerant of winter wet as I found to my cost when I was stupid enough to allow my pots to get waterlogged last year - I lost the lot!

 

Thanks, they definitely won't be soaking wet under the leyllandii, even in winter with heavy showers it's always clear under there.