Although there are a small number of inter-specific hybrids, the common usage of the term 'Cyclamen Hybrids' or 'Florists Cultivars' refers to intra-specific hybrids of Cyclamen persicum origin.

These cultivars have been bred in a large range of flower colours, including 'double flowers', picotee forms and frilly petals. There are also two basic plant sizes, generally referred to as 'large' and 'small' (or 'mini') forms.

The breeding of persicum cultivars began seriously in the mid-nineteenth century through selection and back-crossing, and resulting in flowers several times larger than the wild species. Much of this work took place in England and the Netherlands and many named forms were produced.

In the 1960's a breeding program at Wye College, University of London, crossed existing large flowered plants with wild forms, producing smaller plants with more refined, scented flowers and attractively marked foliage. These became known as the 'Wye College Hybrids'.

Today, Cyclamen persicum cultivars are mass produced as pot-plants particularly in the Netherlands and Germany, using F1 hybrid seed strains.