Venus flytrap
Dionaea muscipula · Family Droseraceae
Also known as: flytrap, dionaea, carnivorous plant
- Light
- Full sun
- Watering
- Every 2 days
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Pet-safe
- Yes
Care
Where to put it
The sunniest windowsill or a cool greenhouse.
Light
Full sun, ideally 6 hours or more a day.
Watering
Stand in a saucer of rainwater so it never dries out. Tap water harms it.
About the plant
The Venus flytrap is the most famous carnivorous plant, with traps that snap shut to catch insects. Charles Darwin called it one of the most wonderful plants in the world. It is small and needs sun and pure water.
Origin
Native to a small area of bogs and wet grasslands on the coast of North and South Carolina, in the USA.
What it likes
- Full sun
- Rainwater or distilled water
- Compost that is always moist
What it dislikes
- Tap water
- Fertiliser
- Traps being triggered for no reason
Did you know?
A trap only closes if two trigger hairs are touched within a few seconds, which avoids false alarms.
