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Carnivorous Plant Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia of popular carnivorous plants with care guides, trapping mechanisms, and cultivation tips.

Featured Carnivorous Plant

Showing 36 of 80 species(124)

Byblis Liniflora

Byblis liniflora

Intermediate

An Australian carnivorous plant with rainbow-glistening mucilage, called Rainbow Plant.

CarnivorousByblisRainbow

Catopsis Berteroniana

Catopsis berteroniana

Intermediate

A bromeliad carnivorous plant that traps insects with waxy leaf surfaces, drowning them in leaf-cup water for nutrients.

CarnivorousCatopsisBromeliad

Drosera Filiformis

Drosera filiformis

Intermediate

A North American sundew with thread-like long leaves, stunningly beautiful when glistening with dew.

CarnivorousSundewThread

Drosera Indica

Drosera indica

Intermediate

A tall sundew native to Japan as well, but wild populations have drastically declined.

CarnivorousSundewUpright

Drosera Petiolaris

Drosera petiolaris

Intermediate

A tropical sundew from northern Australia with rosette trap leaves on long petioles.

CarnivorousSundewTropical

Drosera Prolifera

Drosera prolifera

Intermediate

A unique sundew producing plantlets on flower stalks, spreading in an interesting creeping manner.

CarnivorousSundewPlantlets

Drosera Rotundifolia

Drosera rotundifolia

Intermediate

A round-leaved sundew native to Japan, growing in wetlands. Goes dormant in winter.

CarnivorousSundewJapanese Native

Drosera Scorpioides

Drosera scorpioides

Intermediate

An Australian sundew propagating by gemmae with scorpion-tail-like flower stalks.

CarnivorousSundewGemmae

Drosera Tokaiensis

Drosera tokaiensis

Intermediate

A Japanese endemic sundew discovered in the Tokai region with intermediate leaf shape.

CarnivorousSundewJapanese Endemic

Genlisea

Intermediate

A carnivorous plant with underground Y-shaped traps, cute flowers above but trapping below.

CarnivorousGenliseaUnderground
Heliamphora Minor© Christoph Kühnhanss, Karin Greischberger, CH-3011 BERN / Public domain

Heliamphora Minor

Heliamphora minor

Intermediate

The smallest Heliamphora, compact and cute, ideal for starting with the genus.

CarnivorousHeliamphoraSmallest
Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plant)

Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plant)

Nepenthes spp.

Intermediate

About 170 species of pitcher plants centered in Southeast Asia. Captures insects in lidded pitchers. Highland and lowland species require different growing conditions.

IntermediatePitcherTropical

Nepenthes Ampullaria

Nepenthes ampullaria

Intermediate

A unique Nepenthes clustering pitchers on the ground, decomposing fallen leaves for nutrition.

CarnivorousNepenthesGround

Nepenthes Maxima

Nepenthes maxima

Intermediate

A beautiful Nepenthes from Sulawesi with large pitchers and diverse color forms, relatively hardy.

CarnivorousNepenthesLarge Pitcher
Nepenthes Rafflesiana© en:User:Rbrtjong / Public domain

Nepenthes Rafflesiana

Nepenthes rafflesiana

Intermediate

A large Nepenthes widely distributed in SE Asia with huge pitchers and varied coloring.

CarnivorousNepenthesLarge

Nepenthes Ventricosa

Nepenthes ventricosa

Intermediate

A Nepenthes with cute rounded pitchers, highland but relatively easy to grow.

CarnivorousNepenthesRound

Pinguicula Gigantea

Pinguicula gigantea

Intermediate

The world's largest butterwort with rosettes over 30cm, catching large amounts of insects.

CarnivorousButterwortLargest

Pinguicula Laueana

Pinguicula laueana

Intermediate

A Mexican butterwort with vivid red flowers, considered the most beautiful flowering species.

CarnivorousButterwortRed
Pinguicula Vulgaris

Pinguicula Vulgaris

Pinguicula vulgaris

Intermediate

A widely distributed butterwort of the Northern Hemisphere, native to Japan with purple flowers.

CarnivorousButterwortJapanese

Sarracenia Alata

Sarracenia alata

Intermediate

A Sarracenia with winged tubes, delicate yellow-green form and sweet-scented lid.

CarnivorousSarraceniaWinged

Sarracenia Flava

Sarracenia flava

Intermediate

A Sarracenia with tall yellow-green tubes, one of the largest species, exceeding 1m.

CarnivorousSarraceniaLarge

Sarracenia Leucophylla

Sarracenia leucophylla

Intermediate

The most beautiful Sarracenia with white lids and red vein patterns, especially stunning in autumn.

CarnivorousSarraceniaWhite

Sarracenia Minor

Sarracenia minor

Intermediate

A Sarracenia with window-like transparent patches on the lid, trapping insects confused by light.

CarnivorousSarraceniaWindow

Sarracenia Psittacina

Sarracenia psittacina

Intermediate

A Sarracenia with unique parrot-beak-like pitchers spreading along the ground.

CarnivorousSarraceniaParrot

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.