Cyclamen make a most welcome splash of colour, with ne or more species in flower throughout the year. The flowers, with their characteristic reflexed petals, are in various shades of pink through to white, and the leaves are very often mottled or patterned with silver. A few species are not fully hardy, but many are, and left to seed themselves they can eventually make an impressive display.

Cyclamen africanum looks rather like the familiar and easy Cyclamen hederifolium, but coming from North Africa is not quite so hardy. Probably it is best in a pot in a greenhouse or alpine house, which doesn't have to be frost free, but take care if the temperature drops to