© Krzysztof Golik / CC BY-SA 4.0Drosera madagascariensis
Drosera madagascariensis is a sundew native to continental Africa and Madagascar. Unlike many sundews that stay low in a ground-hugging rosette, this species is distinctly erect-stemmed, sending up a clear stalk lined with alternating spoon-shaped, dew-covered leaves. As it grows, the lower leaves die back but remain clinging to the stem, giving mature plants a distinctive shaggy look. It's a perennial that reaches around 25cm in height and produces delicate pink flowers that add color to any collection. Robust and forgiving, it's a great choice for anyone new to growing carnivorous plants.
View Drosera madagascariensis encyclopedia →0% commission on your first sales!Register by September 30, 2026 and your first 2 plants are commission-free!
Grower Wanted!
List your plants on GrowerDirect and sell directly to customers nationwide!
6 Transparency Commitments from GrowerDirect
Every Grower listing discloses variety, origin, light requirements, and difficulty level for Carnivorous Plants. Complete transparency, guaranteed.
- Variety Disclosed
- Real Photos
- Color Information
- Origin Disclosed
- Light Requirements
- Difficulty Level
Browse all 145 varieties
Light Requirements
Difficulty Level
No listings match your filters
Adjust your filters, or get notified when new listings arrive.
Getting alerts is free with a member account. When new listings match your saved search, we'll notify you by email and in-app.
Browse other categories
Are you growing carnivorous plants?
Register as a grower and connect with buyers directly.
Apply as a growerDrosera madagascariensis key facts
- Growing Difficulty
- Beginner-friendly
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Size
- About 25 cm tall (flower stalks 20-40 cm)
- Temperature
- 10〜35℃
- Watering
- No fertilizer (catches small insects)
- Light & Placement
- Likes bright light; a windowsill is often too dim. Grows well in a greenhouse or under LED lights.
- Watering
- Keep the soil constantly moist on a water tray, using pure or rain water. Prefers somewhat higher humidity than a typical room.
- Temperature & Overwintering
- Subtropical sundews grow at roughly 10-35°C and need no dormancy. In winter keep it above 10°C.
- Soil & Repotting
- Plant in pure sphagnum or a peat-sand mix; for stem-forming species a layer of live sphagnum over peat mix works well. Avoid any soil with added fertilizer.
- Propagation
- When the stem gets leggy, renew it from stem, root or leaf cuttings; stem cuttings give large plants quickly.
- Fertilizer
- No fertilizer in the soil. If feeding, place a little small insect or rehydrated dried bloodworm on a dewy leaf.
About Drosera madagascariensis
An erect-stemmed perennial sundew from Africa and Madagascar with spoon-shaped leaves and pink flowers. Growing to about 25cm, it's a hardy, beginner-friendly carnivorous plant.
7 things to know before growing Drosera madagascariensis
1Light and placement
This sundew prefers plenty of light, which encourages stronger leaf color and dew production. Intense midsummer sun can scorch the leaves, so filtering it with light partial shade and good airflow is a safer bet.
2Watering basics
Keep the growing medium constantly moist using the tray method, where the pot sits in a shallow reservoir of water. Minerals in tap water can build up on the leaves and stress the plant, so rainwater or distilled water is the safer choice.
3Suitable soil mix
A nutrient-free mix of sphagnum moss or peat moss combined with perlite works well. Avoid ordinary potting soil or fertilized mixes, as they can damage the roots.
4Repotting tips
Because of its erect growth habit, the lower leaves die off over time and the plant can start looking untidy, so repotting every few years helps keep it in good shape. Trimming off part of the stem during repotting and using it as a cutting is a good way to refresh and propagate the plant at the same time.
5Seasonal care
As a perennial, this plant can keep growing for several years under the right conditions. It puts out leaves vigorously during the growing season but slows down in winter, so in cold climates it's best kept indoors in a bright spot, away from frost and freezing temperatures.
6Choosing a healthy plant
Look for a plant with a sturdy, upright stem and leaves that are glistening with dew from their sticky glands, both signs of good health. Dead lower leaves are a normal part of this species' growth habit, so they alone aren't a sign of poor condition.
7Propagation by cuttings
Cutting off a section of the stem and placing it in moist growing medium will encourage it to root and produce new leaves. It can also be grown from seed collected after flowering.
Frequently asked questions about Drosera madagascariensis
- Q.Is this a good species for beginners?
- A.Yes, it's a hardy species generally considered suitable for beginners. As long as you follow the basics of watering and light, it's manageable even for someone growing a carnivorous plant for the first time.
- Q.How large does it grow?
- A.It grows to about 25cm in height, with flower stalks extending to roughly 20-40cm when blooming. Its erect growth habit means it develops more vertically than many other sundew species.
- Q.Does it produce flowers?
- A.Yes, it produces soft pink flowers. During the blooming period, a flower stalk rises up from among the leaves, giving the plant a different look.
- Q.Is it normal for the lower leaves to die off?
- A.For erect-growing sundews like this one, older lower leaves dying back and covering the stem is a natural part of growth. As long as new leaves are developing at the top, the plant is likely healthy.
- Q.Can it be grown indoors?
- A.A windowsill alone often doesn't provide enough light, so if you grow it indoors, keep it under LED grow lights. It doesn't need a dormancy period, but in winter keep it somewhere that stays above 10°C.
Handy Growing Tools for Drosera madagascariensis
Learn more about Drosera madagascariensis in the encyclopedia
View Drosera madagascariensis encyclopedia entry →
Care difficulty, size, origin and light needs — all basics covered.
More in this category
Can't find the plant you're looking for?
Post your wishes for free and growers with matching plants will contact you with introductions.