Drosera is a genus with the unusual ability to catch insects and eat them. The small plants are covered with long stalks tipped with sweet-smelling, sticky goo that acts like botanical fly paper.
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More Information About Drosera
Drosera is a very large and widespread genus (for a carnivorous plant) with the unusual ability to catch insects and eat them. The small plants are covered with long stalks tipped with sweet-smelling, sticky goo that acts like botanical fly paper. Drosera is one plant that has learned the old adage: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar".
The common name Sundew comes from the fact that this goo looks like dew drops hanging on the long thin stalks of the plant. Insects are attracted by the sweet odor and get trapped within the goo. The Sundew then wraps its tentacle-like stalks and its leaves around the insect in a death hug which covers the unlucky bug with even more goo. The insects suffocate and are slowly digested by enzymes. Then the nutritious insect slurry is absorbed through the leaves to provide nitrogen for the Sundew.
There are over 150 species of Drosera on every continent except Antarctica but almost half of the Drosera species live in Australia. There are a few native to North Carolina too. They range from tiny little sub-centimeter plants up to 3 feet tall, and there are some vining Drosera species that grow up to 10 feet. Like many carnivorous plants, Drosera species are primarily bog plants that live in nitrogen-poor environments. Despite its large number of species, there are only a few Drosera on the market today because most are very hard to cultivate or are not cold hardy. In addition to providing endless hours of entertainment, Drosera plants produce beautiful, colorful leaves, stalks, and flowers. When you are ready to buy Drosera for your garden, check out our online list of Drosera for sale. If carnivorous plants are your 'thing', check out our venus flytrap for sale and our pitcher plants for sale too.