Drosera
 


 
Drosera represent one of the most diverse families of carnivorous plants. From temperate rosetted species and the minute pygmy sundews to the temperamental woolly sundews and amenable tropical sundews, this remarkable family of plants shares a common mode of function: the production of stalked glands which secrete droplets of syrupy nectar that lure insects and trap them in a gooey endeavor. Other glands then secrete enzymes which digest the trapped insects and absorb the nutrients into the leaves.

Here at Midtown Carnivores, we currently offer two types: tropical sundews and pygmy sundews.

[ Tropical sundews ]  -  [ Pygmy sundews ]


TROPICAL SUNDEWS

 

 

Drosera capensis
Cape sundew
In addition to being one of the easiest, most forgiving sundews to grow, the Cape sundew, native to South Africa, is also one of the most visually stunning. It is one of the few species whose leaves move to wrap themselves around their prey, to bring a greater number of its digestive and trapping tentacles to bear. It is so easy to grow that in some collections it is regarded as a weed because its bountiful seeds take root extremely readily.

Grows well indoors w/ artificial lightingGrows well on an sunny windowsillGrows well outdoors under full sun

Large, flowering size, 4.5" pot: temporarily sold out
Medium, 3.5 pot: $7.00
Small, 2" pot: $4.00


 Plant care information (.pdf):
Feeding reference:




 

   
 

Drosera capensis 'albino'
 Albino Cape sundew
Alternatively described as 'alba'. This variant of the D. capensis produces leaves whose tentacles are usually white, instead of the usual red. If grown under intense light, the tentacles turns a light pink, but its color could never be mistaken for its wild-type counterpart.

Grows well indoors w/ artificial lightingGrows well on an sunny windowsillGrows well outdoors under full sun

Large, flowering size, 4.5" pot: temporarily sold out
Medium, 3.5" pot: $7.00
Small, 2" pot: $4.00

Plant care information (.pdf):
Feeding reference:




 



 

Drosera capensis 'all red'
 Red Cape sundew
Alternatively described as ''red'. For those who enjoy the beauty of the cape sundew, we now also offer the "all red" genetic variant. when grown under lower light levels, this plant grows green leaves with red tentacles similar to the typical variety. However, when grown under intense, direct sunlight, the entire leaf is a deep maroon with red tentacles. As each leaf ages, its coloration deepens.

Grows well indoors w/ artificial lightingGrows well on an sunny windowsillGrows well outdoors under full sun

Medium, 3.5" pot: $10.00
Small, 2" pot: $6.00


Plant care information (.pdf):
Feeding reference:




 


 

Drosera binata var. multifida f. extrema
Highly branching cultivar of the fork-leafed sundew
The "multifida extrema" is a genetic variant of the fork-leafed sundew. Like the typical Drosera binata, it forms narrow leaves that fork and produce carnivorous, dewy leaves. What makes this form special is that it doesn't just fork once to create a "V-shaped" branch extension, but rather it forks and branches multiple times per leaf. Adult plants have leaves which are forked multiple times to form a nearly web-like leaf system.

Grows well indoors w/ artificial lightingGrows well on an sunny windowsillGrows well outdoors under full sun

Medium, 3.5" pot: temporarily sold out

Plant care information (.pdf):
Feeding reference:




 


 

Drosera 'Marston Dragon'
Hybrid cultivar of the fork-leafed sundew
This cultivar is a hybrid between Drosera binata var. multifida f. extrema and Drosera binata var. dichotoma 'Giant'. It was created by Adrian Slack in 1986, and was named because its long, forked, dew-covered leaves resemble the taloned claws of mythical dragons. Depending on light levels, its leaves can range from green to maroon, with each leaf covered with red, stalked glands.

Grows well indoors w/ artificial lightingGrows well on an sunny windowsillGrows well outdoors under full sun

Extra Large, 5.5" pot: $14.00
Large, 4.5" pot: $11.00
Plant care information (.pdf):
Feeding reference:





PYGMY SUNDEWS

 

 
 

Drosera roseana
a pygmy sundew
Alternatively described as 'Drosera palacea ssp. roseana'. As with all of the diminutive yet stunning pygmy  sundews, D. roseana at full size remains less than a full inch across in diameter. But it makes up for its size in the autumn, when a large cluster of small brood bodies, known as gemmae, erupt from the center of the tiny rosette. When ripe, the gemmae can be flicked great distances from the plant when disturbed. If a gemma lands in moist soil, it can grow into a clone of the mother plant.

Grows well indoors w/ artificial lightingGrows well on an sunny windowsill

2 yrs. old, ~15 plants, 2" pot: $15.00
<1 yr. old, 3 plants, 2" pot: $5.00

Plant care information (.pdf):
Feeding reference:




 

 

Drosera scorpioides
a pygmy sundew
Also known as 'scorpiodes'. D. scorpioides is the largest of the pygmy sundews, with specimens growing up to a few inches high. In the fall, look for the production of a cluster of large gemmae from the center of the plant, which, when ripe, can be laid on moist soil to produce additional clones of the mother plant.

Grows well indoors w/ artificial lightingGrows well on an sunny windowsill

3 yrs. old, 4-5 plants, 2" pot: $10.00
3 yrs. old, 2 plants, 2" pot: $6.00


Plant care information (.pdf):
Feeding reference:


Symbol Legend  
Requires a period of winter dormancy each year. For more information, see the care sheet for each plant.
Grows well indoors under fluorescent lighting.
Grows well on a sunny south- or east-facing windowsill year-round.
Grows well outdoors under full sun, but should be brought indoors in the winter.