Eastern Sowbread - Cyclamen coum

Description

The leaves tend to be much more rounded than Cyclamen hederifolium and the flowers have a basal M-shaped purple zone on each corolla lobe.

Similar Species

Cyclamen hederifolium has leaves with angled or pointed lobes and flowers in autumn

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.

Habitat

Often found as a garden escape and close to habitation.

When to see it

Flowers in the very early spring from January through to April.

Life History

Tuberous perennial.

UK Status

Infrequent but widespread in the wild in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in the wild in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Eastern Cyclamen, Eastern Sowbread
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Primulaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
7
First record:
02/02/2019 (Cooper, Barbara)
Last record:
09/03/2025 (Mabbett, Craig)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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