CHOICE PLANTS FOR ROCK GARDENS = 133 
the year. An additional charm is the handsome marbling 
and veining of the foliage, for few plants show such remark- 
ably striking ornamentation in leaf as is seen in these 
dainty little gems, C. ibericum and C. neapolitanum 
being specially fine in this respect. 
We may commence the year with 
C. coum, for an established plant 
will bloom in January unless abso- 
lutely held in an icy grip. The 
type has ruddy crimson blossoms, 
but there are pure white, pink, and 
lilac varieties. C. libanoticum is 
another of the earliest to bloom, 
- and has white petals with a red 
base. Before these are over C. Tinoe Cet iar, 
ibericum starts, there being several 
varieties and colours of this species, of which Atkin- 
sonii is one of the most effective, with white flowers 
based with a crimson blotch. C. repandum takes up the 
succession in April, and may be had in both red and white 
flowered forms. It goes on flowering until midsummer, and 
later bloomers are C. europeum and C. neapolitanum. 
Later still is C. latifolium, whilst C. cilicicum carries us 
on to November and even into December. 
With so much to their credit, it might be supposed that 
no respectable collection of alpines would fail to include 
hardy Cyclamen, but the fact that they are not so fre- 
quently seen as their merits would justify is, perhaps, a 
matter worthy of our consideration. 
Hardy Cyclamen are not really difficult subjects to 

