Drosera

( droh - SEER - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Sundews, this large genus of carnivorous plants is native to every continent except for Antarctica. Species can be annual or perennial, and typically thrive in boggy, nutrient-poor, sunny wetlands and are mostly perennial. They are prized for their unique way of capturing nutrients in poor soils; they trap and digest prey such as fungus gnats, fruit flies, mosquitoes, and springtails. Once trapped, insects are wrapped up and digested over several hours or days. Grow these plants as functional pest control, as specimens, or as indoor plants. They also make wonderful terrarium plants.

Drosera Species and Varietals

The genus Drosera is the type member of the plant family Droseraceae, and includes at least 194 distinct species. Drosera plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 7-11. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Drosera adelae (Lance-Leaved Sundew)
This species is endemic to Queensland, Australia, and produces long, sword-shaped light green leaves in a basal rosette. Leaves are covered with sticky tentacles. Movement is slow in this species, barely noticeable in most cases. Flowers are borne on an upright raceme to 14 inches tall. Blooms are red, red-orange, or cream colored and bloom from June through November in the plant's native range. Reproduces rapidly through spreading roots.

Drosera admirabilis (Floating Sundew)
Native to the southwestern Cape Province, South Africa, this species grows as a tight rosette with leaves that widen towards their rounded tips. Flowers are produced several times in a season, and produces new leaves on top of old ones, giving the plant a stacked look. Roots can grow relatively deep; a taller pot is ideal when growing these in containers.

Drosera aliciae (Alice Sundew, Alice's Sundew)
These plants form small, low-growing rosettes of green, wedge-shaped leaves. Tentacles are red and dew-covered. Flowers are bright pink and small, held on a flowering stalk above the rosette. Individual plants typically reach up to 2-4 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall at maturity. Under ideal conditions, they will form clumps that can be divided.

Drosera anglica (English Sundew, Great Sundew, Long-Leaved Sundew, Mikinalo)
This species is one of the most widely distributed in the genus, and is found at high elevations around the globe. It is a perennial that forms a stemless rosette of linear to spatulate leaves that can reach up to 4 inches long. Roots are shallow in this species, penetrating only a few centimeters into substrate. White flowers are present in summertime.

Drosera binata (Forked Sundew, Fork-Leaved Sundew, Giant Forked Sundew)
These plants are native to southeastern Australia and New Zealand, where they grow in bogs, swamps, and sandy coastal regions. Leaves in this species are forked and up to 2 feet long. Flowers are white and held atop tall, upright scapes. Individual plants form dense, bushy clumps, often reaching up to 6-12 inches tall when mature.

Drosera brevifolia (Dwarf Sundew, Red Sundew, Small Sundew)
This species is native to the Americas, and produces wedge-shaped reddish-purple foliage. It is considered endangered in Kentucky and threatened in Tennessee, United States. It forms a small rosette no more than 1.2 inches across and produces 6-inch tall flowering scapes. Blooms are pink or white and are present in springtime.

Drosera capensis (Cape Sundew)
These Sundews are native to the Cape region of South Africa, hence their common name. They typically grow in permanently wet habitats, and produce elongated green leaves with red stalked glands. Individual plants reach up to 4-6 inches wide (occasionally up to 12 inches). Flowering stems hold between 15 and 30 pale purple to whitish flowers in summertime. Cultivars include 'Albino' (with white flowers and a lack of red coloration on tentacles) 'Narrow Leaf' (with narrower leaves than the straight species'. 'Anemone' (with paddle-shaped leaves and purple-pink flowers), and 'Hercules' (clump-forming with broader leaves). This species is considered highly invasive in New Zealand and California.

Drosera capillaris (Pink Sundew, Bog Sundew, Spathulate-Leaved Sundew)
This species of Sundew is native to the southern United States, Greater Antilles, western and southern areas of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It forms a rosette of prostrate (occasionally upright) foliage. Individual leaves reach up to an inch long. Flowering stems can reach up to 4-14 inches tall and hold pink to whitish blooms.

Drosera derbyensis (Derby Sundew, Wooly Sundew, Octopus Plant)
This species, native to Western Australia, forms an erect to semi-erect rosette that can branch at the base. Insect trapping glands are located in a terminal circle. Flowers are white and bloom from March to June in the plant's native range. Roots are fibrous.

Drosera erythrorhiza (Red Ink Sundew)
This perennial tuberous species is endemic to western regions of Australia, and produces a basal rosette of wide, flattened foliage. Leaves are light green and covered with small insect-trapping glands. Flowers are produced in large inflorescences with up to 50 individual blooms. Flowers are typically light pink to light purple. Plants in this species reach up to between 1 and 3 inches wide.

Drosera filiformis (Tracy's Sundew, Dewthread, Thread-Leaved Sundew)
This small species forms a perennial rosette of long leaves that unfurl in spirals similarly to fern fronds. It is native to the United States and Canada. Flowers are pink to purple, held on leafless scapes held over the foliage clump. Individual plants reach up to about 20 inches tall when mature. In cold climates, these plants form a resting bud to survive freezing temperatures.

Drosera gigantea (Giant Sundew)
This tuberous species is endemic to Western Australia, where it grows in sandy soils around swamplands. It produces small shield-shaped leaves along lateral branches that look similar to a small tree. It is considered one of the largest Drosera species, and produces white flowers from August through November in its native range.

Drosera glanduligera (Pimpernel Sundew, Scarlet Sundew, Common Scarlet Sundew)
This annual species grows well in a range of habitats and soil conditions, and has fibrous roots. It forms a basal rosette of light green foliage covered with sticky pink to reddish tentacles. Flowers are orange, and held above the foliage clump. Individual plants reach up to 1-2 inches wide.

Drosera indica (Indian Sundew)
This species is native to tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. It forms an annual, unbranched plant supported by a fibrous root system. Leaves are narrowly linear and green to maroon, covered in tentacles. New growth is upright, older growth is prostrate. Flowers are held above the foliage and can be white, pink, orange or purple.

Drosera intermedia (Oblong-Leaved Sundew, Spoonleaf Sundew, Spatulate Leaved Sundew)
This plant is native to Europe, southeastern Canada, the eastern half of the United States, Cuba, Hispaniola, and South America. It is a perennial species that reaches up to 4 inches tall when mature. In temperate regions, they go dormant in wintertime, forming a resting bud from which they reemerge the following spring. Blooms are present from June through August, and are white.

Drosera macrophylla (Showy Sundew)
This perennial tuberous species is endemic to Western Australia. It forms a rosette with 2-inch long green leaves that are flat and wide, preferring loamy soils. Individual plants produce up to 10 leaves and reach up to between 4 and 5 inches wide.

Drosera peltata (Shield Sundew, Pale Sundew, Swamp Sundew)
These Sundews form climbing or scrambling plants that produce shield-shaped leaves along its stem. It grows from a tuberous root and is a perennial species. Shield Sundew is native to Australia, New Zealand, India, and Southeast Asia, where it grows in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, heaths, and swamps. Individual plants can reach up to 20 inches tall.

Drosera rotundifolia (Round-Leaved Sundew, Roundleaf Sundew, Common Sundew)
This species is native to bogs, marshes, and fens in many areas of the world. Leaves are arranged in a basal rosette, and are green to reddish. Upper leaf surfaces are covered in red to pinkish glandular hairs. Individual plants reach up to 2 inches wide and produce inflorescences that hold white or pinkish flowers. This species is considered potentially invasive in Argentina.

Drosera schmutzii (Schmutz's Sundew)
This perennial species is native to Kangaroo Island in South Australia, where it grows well in clay soils. The species is considered unique due to its reddish-pink foliage, and is in flowering from June through September in its native habitat. Flowers are white.

Caring for Drosera

Drosera plants are typically purchased as starts from a reputable plant seller. Sundews should be planted in a spot in the garden that receives full sun; ideally, they should receive between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day. In warmer climates, they appreciate some afternoon shade when temperatures are at their peak (typically between 2 and 3 PM). They like soil that is poor and well-draining with a pH of between 4.0 and 5.5 (acidic to slightly acidic). They appreciate a moist substrate, so ensure that their soil is able to hold a good amount of water before planting. Recommended soil mixtures include 1:1 peat moss and sand or 1:1:1 peat moss, perlite, and sand. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. Mature plants also need consistently moist soils. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top of the soil looks and feels dry.

Drosera plants do not need to be fertilized; they prefer poor soils and will not handle any amount of added fertilizer. Pruning is not necessary, but if any foliage is becoming unsightly, it can be removed at any time during the active growing season. Spent flowers can be removed to neaten up the look of plants and encourage more blooms to pop. If propagating these plants via seed, the flowering stalks will need to remain and seed heads will eventually mature, providing seeds for the next generation of plants. Drosera plants can be either annuals or perennials. Annual plants are typically composted at the end of the year, but if allowed to flower and set seed, will spread through the landscape if soil conditions are right. Perennial species can last for about 3-5 years before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

Drosera, or Sundew, can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Sundew plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Drosera by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new flower.

Propagating Drosera by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Drosera plants are pretty easy to find, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside, or they can be manually opened. Once seeds have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray on the soil surface and cover them with a light layer of soil. Water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 15 to 45 days from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Certain species of Drosera are considered invasive in some regions around the world. See the species descriptions above for more information, and check with local authorities before planting. Drosera, or Sundews, can be susceptible to developing problems with the following pests and diseases: