Carnivorous Plant Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular carnivorous plants with care guides, trapping mechanisms, and cultivation tips.
Featured Carnivorous Plant
Showing 6 of 140 species
© Cooleyray / CC BY-SA 4.0Drosera falconeri
Drosera falconeri
A sundew that lays large kidney-shaped leaves flat on the ground, looking rather like a Venus flytrap. Native to tropical northern Australia, it rests as a bud at soil level in the dry season. Unusually for a carnivorous plant it grows on alkaline, calcareous soil.
© Paulo Gonella / CC BY-SA 3.0Drosera Magnifica
Drosera magnifica
Discovered in 2015, one of the world's largest sundews, endemic to one mountain in Brazil.
© Michal Rubeš / CC BY 3.0 czDrosera Paradoxa
Drosera paradoxa
A large tropical sundew with tall stems from northern Australia, wild and impressive.
© user:Denis Barthel / CC BY-SA 3.0Drosera Regia
Drosera regia
Called King Sundew, the largest sundew with leaves exceeding 60cm.
© Paulo Fassina / CC BY-SA 2.0Drosera roraimae
Drosera roraimae
A highland sundew from South America whose type specimen was collected on Mount Roraima in the Guiana Highlands. It carries its sticky leaves on a short stem clothed in many dead leaves, and a glandular flower stalk bears about ten flowers.
© Keisotyo / CC BY-SA 4.0Shield sundew
Drosera peltata
A Japanese native sundew that raises an upright stem each spring from a small tuber, bearing crescent-shaped sticky leaves. The name means 'stone-holding plant', from its glue said to lift pebbles. White flowers appear in early summer, then it dies back and rests over summer.
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Carnivorous Plant FAQ
- How much do carnivorous plants cost?
- Venus Flytraps cost 500-2,000 yen, Nepenthes 1,000-10,000 yen, and rare highland Nepenthes can exceed tens of thousands of yen depending on species and size.
- Can beginners grow carnivorous plants?
- Venus Flytraps, Sundews, and Sarracenia are relatively easy and beginner-friendly. Keep them in a tray of water for humidity and place in a sunny spot.
- How long do carnivorous plants live?
- Venus Flytraps can live 10+ years with proper care, and Sarracenia are similarly long-lived. Nepenthes can grow for decades in the right conditions, getting progressively larger.
- What should I check when buying carnivorous plants?
- Check that leaves and traps are healthy with no root rot. For Nepenthes, choose specimens with pitchers. Avoid sudden environment changes after purchase and acclimate gradually.
- Do I need to feed insects to carnivorous plants?
- They grow fine through photosynthesis alone without feeding. Insects are supplemental nutrition and don't need to be force-fed. Outdoor plants catch bugs naturally, which is fun to observe.