What is the Difference Between Cyclamen Coum and Hederifolium

The main difference between Cyclamen coum and hederifolium is that the flowers of Cyclamen coum are dumpy and have no auricles in the base whereas flowers of Cyclamen hederifolium are more elongated and have auricles.

Cyclamen coum and hederifolium are two common garden species. The leaves of the Cyclamen coum are rounded while Cyclamen hederifolium leaves are more pointed. Moreover, Cyclamen coum blooms early in the year while Cyclamen hederifolium blooms from late summer to autumn.  

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Cyclamen Coum
   • Definition, Features, Importance
2. What is Cyclamen Hederifolium
   • Definition, Features, Importance
3. Similarities Between Cyclamen Coum and Hederifolium
   • Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Cyclamen Coum and Hederifolium
   • Comparison with Key Differences

Key Terms

Cyclamen Coum, Cyclamen Hederifolium

What is Cyclamen Coum

Cyclamen coum or eastern sowbread is a species of flowering plant that belongs to the family Primulaceae. It is a tuberous herbaceous perennial. It grows 5-8 cm tall. However, the main characteristic features of Cyclamen coum are its rounded, heart-shaped leaves and pink shell-shaped flowers with darker coloration at the base. In horticulture, Cyclamen coum is important as a ground cover. Moreover, it blooms in winter and early spring.

Figure 1: Cyclamen coum

Furthermore, Cyclamen coum is native to areas around the Black Sea, from Bulgaria through northern Turkey to the Caucasus and Crimea. Other than that, the tuber of the Cyclamen coum produces roots from the bottom center.  The leaf color varies from green to silver. In addition, the edges of the leaf are smooth or gently toothed. Further, its flowers have round petals.

What is Cyclamen Hederifolium

Cyclamen hederifolium or ivy-leaved cyclamen is another species of flowering plant that belongs to the family Primulaceae. However, it is native to woodland, shrubland, and rocky areas in the Mediterranean region from southern France to western Turkey and the Mediterranean islands. It is naturalized farther north in Europe and in the Pacific Northwest. It is a tuberous perennial that blooms and sprouts leaves in autumn, grows through the winter, and goes dormant before summer when the seed pods ripen and open.

Figure 2: Cyclamen Hederifolium

Moreover, the roots of the Cyclamen hederifolium occur on the top side of the round tuber. The tuber becomes larger with the age. In addition, the shape of the leaves varies from heart-shaped to long and arrow-shaped with two or three angled lobes.

Similarities Between Cyclamen Coum and Hederifolium

• Cyclamen coum and hederifolium are two types of Cyclamen species that belong to the family Primulaceae.
• They grow 5-8 cm taller and are good as a ground cover.
• Moreover, they are tuberous herbaceous perennials.

Difference Between Cyclamen Coum and Hederifolium

Definition

Cyclamen coum refers to a perennial plant with dumpy flowers that has no auricles in the base while Cyclamen hederifolium refers to a perennial plant with more elongated flowers and auricles.

Leaves

Usually, the leaves of the Cyclamen coum are rounded while Cyclamen hederifolium leaves are more pointed.

Blooming

Cyclamen coum blooms early in the year while Cyclamen hederifolium blooms late summer to autumn.

Conclusion

In brief, Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium are two species of the same family, Primulaceae. They are herbaceous perennials that grow 5-8 cm from the ground and are good as ground cover in horticulture. Moreover, they develop tubers from which they grow again. Cyclamen coum has dumpy flowers with no auricles while the flowers of the Cyclamen hederifolium are pointy. In addition, Cyclamen coum blooms early in the year while Cyclamen hederifolium blooms late summer to autumn. Thus, the main difference between Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium is their flowering.

Reference:

1. Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, April 12). Cyclamen coum. Wikipedia. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
2. Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, March 10). Cyclamen hederifolium. Wikipedia. Retrieved August 16, 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Cyclamen (8457919409) ” By Ian Kirk – Own Work (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “C. hederifolium flowers & leaves ” By Meneerke bloem – Own Work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia