Carnivorous Plant Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular carnivorous plants with care guides, trapping mechanisms, and cultivation tips.
Featured Carnivorous Plant
Showing 8 of 140 species
© Gabriele Zoppoli / CC BY-SA 4.0Cephalotus Eden Black
Cephalotus follicularis 'Eden Black'
A selected clone of the Albany pitcher plant. In strong light the rim, then the whole pitcher and even the lid darken to a near-black purple. Selected by a British grower in the late 1980s and registered with the ICPS in 2007.
© fischermans / CC BY-SA 3.0Pinguicula 'Aphrodite'
Pinguicula 'Aphrodite'
A Czech-raised butterwort from P. agnata × P. moctezumae. It has long, narrow, arching leaves and flowers up to 4 cm across that open dark violet and fade to pink as they age.
© User:Ch.Andrew / CC BY 3.0Pinguicula 'Sethos'
Pinguicula 'Sethos'
A classic hybrid of the Mexican butterworts P. moranensis and P. ehlersiae. It flowers freely, and its large orchid-purple flowers have a white, many-rayed star at the throat.
© Tangopaso / Public domainPinguicula 'Weser'
Pinguicula 'Weser'
A butterwort cultivar selected from the same P. moranensis × P. ehlersiae cross as 'Sethos'. The flowers resemble 'Sethos' but have a single white streak down the central lower lobe and dark veins.
© Aaron Carlson from Menomonie, WI, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0Sarracenia 'Judith Hindle'
Sarracenia 'Judith Hindle'
A three-species Sarracenia hybrid raised by Alan Hindle. Pitchers open green laced with yellow in spring and turn deep plum red by late summer, topped by a ruffled hood mottled white, yellow and green.
© Tippitiwichet / CC BY 2.0Sarracenia 'Scarlet Belle'
Sarracenia 'Scarlet Belle'
An American cultivar from S. leucophylla × S. psittacina. Numerous vivid scarlet pitchers up to 40 cm tall turn their mouths toward the centre of the plant, and its vigour and good colour even in part shade have made it widespread.
© Gabriele Zoppoli / CC BY-SA 4.0Venus Flytrap Alien
Dionaea muscipula 'Alien'
A mutant Venus flytrap whose traps are strongly arched and fused at the tip, so they never close fully. Its short teeth carry small wings. A French-registered cultivar named after the head of the creature in the film 'Alien'.
Venus Flytrap Jaws
Dionaea muscipula 'Jaws'
A Venus flytrap whose marginal teeth are reduced to short triangles, so half-closed traps look like a shark's jaws. The traps are also large and well coloured. Bred and selected in the USA and registered with the ICPS in 2002.
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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.