Cyclamen

I am not completely convinced this is Cyclamen hederifolium (the commonest one with this kind of marking). If it were you would have seen the flowers (without the leaves) at the end of last summer and in a clump that big they would have been pretty obvious.

The shape, the shine, the markings and the growth habit all look suspicious to me. Look at Asarum species some of which have very similar leaves.

I'd consider Asarum splendens as a likely candidate. Often found in similar locations as the cyclamen, but as noted, a different leaf shape and size and a purplish underside to the leaves. If you peek under all the foliage, you may see signs of its unusual brown flowers beginning to show........it should be blooming just about now.

I've never seen an asarum with leaves/crown that congested, but I'll bow to the more knowledgeable. Also, he said it was coming up "around my yard", which is more likely with cyclamen than asarum.

If it makes a difference, it looks like it's attached to a big round above ground rootball and lots of spiraled tendrils... there were leaves covering that part of the yard last year, so we didn't see anything until this year.

OK, the spirals and the large corm do sound like Cyclamen. I'm really surprised with a clump that big you didnt see the flowers. Any chance of a photo of the spirals just to sure?

The leaves covering it were a thick pile from a big leaf maple...would that prevent it from flowering? I will take more photos tonight when i get home from work! Thank you all for the help. :)

Also, whatever it is, I love it, it's so lush and beautiful!

It would have flowered at the end of last summer. Was it covered in maple leaves then? The Cyclemen leaves will disappear in the summer before it flowers.

Sorry for the delay, I have more photos....

It is Cyclamen hederifolium and the seeds are contained in those round coiled seed pods which should ripen in May or June.

Yes. Corm and seeds absolutely confirm. The leaves just didn't quit typical to me initially. It must have flowered last year. Look out for them again in late summer.

I agree with gardengal48, Asarum splendens.

Not with those corms and seed pods.

Cyclamen grows from tubers according to the Cyclamen Society. While others may call it a corm, I have never seen any offsets like Gladiolus have which are corms.

http://www.cyclamen.org/plants/species/cyclamen-hederifolium/

You're absolutely right Carol. I was being inaccurate.

'Not with those tubers and seed pods'. ;-)