The cyclamen plant, a member of the primrose family, is highly attractive with its heart shaped leaves with a tinge of white and its deflexed flower petals. The drooping flowers appear in the shades of white, lavender, red and pink and blossom throughout spring and winter. The flower is also known by names like ‘sowbread’, ‘Persian violet’ and ‘primrose’.

The plant prefers to grow in cool climates. The soil must be moist, loose and well drained. It requires bright sunlight and can be found widely in the islands and coastal regions of the Mediterranean along Spain and Iran. It is also familiar in northeast Africa where it can be seen in the southern parts of Somalia. The plant gets affected by too much watering, strong heat and extreme light.

The showy appearance of the plant with the captivating beauty of the bright flowers has made the plant highly popular and it is widely grown in gardens as well as potted plants. The flowers are also used for decoration and as cut flowers. Cyclamens are wonderful gifts to be presented to dear ones.