Carnivorous Plant Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular carnivorous plants with care guides, trapping mechanisms, and cultivation tips.
Featured Carnivorous Plant
Showing 10 of 140 species
© Thomas Huntke / CC BY-SA 3.0 deDrosera × obovata
Drosera × obovata
A natural hybrid of the round-leaved sundew and the great sundew, with spoon-shaped leaves intermediate between its parents. It is sterile and must be propagated by division or leaf cuttings. It occurs in Japan in bogs where both parents grow together.
© NoahElhardt / CC BY-SA 3.0Drosera Filiformis
Drosera filiformis
A North American sundew with thread-like long leaves, stunningly beautiful when glistening with dew.
© J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 4.0Drosera Indica
Drosera indica
A tall sundew native to Japan as well, but wild populations have drastically declined.
© Cooleyray / CC BY-SA 4.0Drosera ordensis
Drosera ordensis
A 'woolly' sundew of the petiolaris group with broad petioles densely covered in long silvery hairs. Rosettes are usually about 8 cm across. It bears pink to white flowers and grows around the Ord River in northern Australia.
© Michal Rubeš / CC BY 3.0 czDrosera Petiolaris
Drosera petiolaris
A tropical sundew from northern Australia with rosette trap leaves on long petioles.
© Petr Dlouhý / CC BY-SA 3.0Drosera Prolifera
Drosera prolifera
A unique sundew producing plantlets on flower stalks, spreading in an interesting creeping manner.
© association AMV / CC BY-SA 4.0Drosera Rotundifolia
Drosera rotundifolia
A round-leaved sundew native to Japan, growing in wetlands. Goes dormant in winter.
© Matthias Jauernig / CC BY-SA 3.0Drosera Scorpioides
Drosera scorpioides
An Australian sundew propagating by gemmae with scorpion-tail-like flower stalks.
© Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0Drosera Tokaiensis
Drosera tokaiensis
A Japanese endemic sundew discovered in the Tokai region with intermediate leaf shape.
© Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0Rosy sundew
Drosera hamiltonii
A sundew from south-western Western Australia forming rosettes 4-6 cm across of spoon-shaped leaves. Stalks 30-40 cm tall carry large deep-pink flowers with fused styles, a feature that places it alone in its own section.
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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.