Doesn't sound silly at all. I can never figure it out, either, so I just depend on them sorting themselves out and they do.

I think it tends to be slightly flatter end downwards, slightly smoother side uppermost - any dry, shrivelled roots visible? I cheat and plant mine in the green - that way you can't go wrong! (Sorry, not much use to you, that comment) Ojib's right - almost anything will overcome gardeners' mistakes about planting the right way up.

Not cheating, Gattina, cyclamen are much more likely to succeed when bought as growing plants.

Round side down, concave side up....does that sound right.

Just planted 200 C. hederafolium and the corms have a slightly concave side which appeared to have had growth on.

Someone once told me, if in doubt lay it on its side.
Thanks Mr B, I can never get them to grow, I don`t feel quite so much of a failiure now...

That was probably me Lincslass! :-)

Cyclamen corms don't like to be desicated (hanging in bags in the garden center), Linkslass, and are very difficult to bring back into growth. Buying growing plants is more expensive but they are then easy to grow on. They also come easily from seed even though it then takes a few years to get the first flowers.

These White, 'Hardy' Neapolitanum Alba Cyclamen, (rare, so the Nursery says), were extremely expensive, so I don't want to plant them the wrong way up!
I also purchased hederiflolium, (perfumed pink); also pretty pricy! I just thought it would be nice to have something a little different that (hopefully), will survive the winter. Unfortunately, I couldn't get these particular ones 'in the green' so to speak.
Needless to say, I must have been a little light headed when I ordered them.
Thank you all for your response!

Rozz.

Agree all round ... a small/large doughnut shape corn with a flat bottom?... then the flat bit goes into the ground. Bulbaholic is right in that planting corns may take longer to flower than planting a corn already in leaf. It can take two years to flowering when transplanting corns. After that, all the babies produced (no hoeing allowed!!) will produce flowerings in future years, but they do need to settle first.

Have at last found a website that has answered my question fully; Hardy Cyclamen should be planted with rounded smooth side Down!
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How to Plant Hardy Cyclamen Corms

Corms are most easily planted while in their dormant state. They can be transplanted while in growth but the mass of roots and tangle of stems make it more difficult. With the soil prepared place the corm deep enough so that there is at least 1 inch of soil covering them. It is important to plant the dormant corms right side up. Some corms may be difficult to distinguish top from bottom. The top side of the tuber usually is rough, bumpy or has nodules, this is where roots and the stems will sprout from. The bottom is round and very smooth. An examination of these features will help determine which end is up. The proper distance to place them depends on the size of the corm and how long they will remain in place. If they will be undisturbed, plant each corm about one foot apart. Dormant corms will grow roots if the soil has a little moisture available so I usually water them in after planting, letting the soil become almost fully dry before watering again. Water is especially important during the seasons of growth, Fall through Spring, and in areas where it is very dry like that under evergreen trees.

© 2011 Arden Currie - hardycyclamens.com

Oh ---! I have now got to replant them all!!!

Thanks all!