The genus Cyclamen spans 23 species, most of them native to the rocky, seasonally dry Mediterranean, and all of them operating on an upside-down calendar. They grow and flower through the cool, wet season and retreat underground during summer's heat, the tuber conserving moisture while other plants struggle in the heat. The flowers, which twist their petals reflexed and upright like pinned wings, are pollinated by bees and give way to coiled seed stalks that pull the ripening capsule down toward the ground, where ants disperse the seeds.

Hardiness varies considerably across the genus, from the tough Cyclamen hederifolium and C. coum, which manage zone 4, to the florist's cyclamen (C. persicum) suited only to zones 9 through 11. For outdoor planting in temperate gardens, the hardier species are best placed under deciduous trees where they appreciate the summer dryness that canopy shade and competing roots provide. The marbled foliage, alone, earns them a place in the garden: silver and deep green patterning that differs not just from species to species but often from plant to plant. Seeds are best sown fresh, since viability falls quickly after harvest.