Australian Tuberous Sundews

Almost all the tuberous Sundews are native to Australia, and enjoy growing in sandy soils.  A few of them have naturalized themselves in other locations.  They actively grow in the winter when water and temperatures are favorable, and die back in the summer when there is drought and heat.   It's important to give these plants half a year of favorable conditions, then allow them to go dormant for the rest of the year. Allen Lowrie has the best information available in his book about these plants. Unfortunately for many, only his third volume is still readily available (which is why I focused on growing information for CP's at my webpage).  Tom Johnson has done a pretty good job making a list for anyone interested in growing these plants at his website.  

Growing Media:

Look below at specific plants.  Dry dormancy means the plants' soil should go completely dry during their dormancy period.  A mixture of sand and peat or sand and Sphagnum will work well.  Plants that tolerate a wet dormancy can use a mixture with a higher peat/sphagnum mix. ants need an open airy soil mixture, allowing good drainage.  All growing  containers need soil depth of 7-10 inches minimum!

 

Temperatures:

Growing season (winter) should be 40-80F, while dormant season (summer) is 70-100F. 

 

Water & Humidity:

Provide plenty of water in the winter, but discontinue watering in the summer for dormancy.

 

Light:

Indirect light is preferred over full sun. 

 

Dormancy Requirements:

Highly required, except for the few noted below.  It should be for 5-7 months.   

 

Asexual Reproduction:

These plants commonly reproduce through tubers.  All these plants are best transplanted or moved only during their dormant season -- Allen Lowrie only sells them during this time period. However, dig up the soil when dry, and follow the main tap root to the tuber. Side roots or runners will lead to additional tubers. 

 

Sexual Reproduction:

I listed those plants that self-pollinate. Unfortunately, very few of these plants will reproduce from seed, they primarily rely on tubers for reproduction. 

Specific Cultural Information

Note that a "" denotes a picture available at the CP Database, just click on the camera and enter "Drosera" and the species. Also check out the pictures available at the Galleria Carnivora, First floor. 

---

D. andersoniana  GD

A plant that first forms a rosette before growing an upright stem up to 12" (30.5cm) in height and normally grows in loamy soils. The leaves themselves turn reddish in ample light.  The plant puts out 3-15 white to pink flowers. The flowers are self-pollinating, and are one of the few tuberous species that can have seeds that germinate easily -- the plant itself isn't the easiest to grow. 

Tuber: Yellow, 7mm in diameter. 
Provide Dry Dormancy. 

 

D. auriculata 

This plant can be found in New Zealand and Australia. It first produces a small rosette, then grows an erect long stem from the base.  Several white blooms can appear on a single flower scape.  It is so similar to D. peltata that it was thought to be a subspecies. However, this plant has greener leaves, a more robust habit, and bears more flowers.  Light pink Flowers with sepals that have black spots, which aide in identification. This plant will die back to a tuber during dormancy.  It can be propagated by leaf cuttings.

White Tuber, 8mm in diameter. 
Dry Dormancy 

D. bicolor 

This tuberous sundew gets its name from the flowers, which are white with red spots (the ONLY tuberous sundew with two colors on the inside of the flower). This orange-reddish sundew gets up to 4 1/2" (11.5cm) high. It forms a basal rosette, then grows an erect stem. Displays 8-20 flowers. Close relatives to this plant include D. salina and D. peltata. 
Red Tuber 5mm in diameter, in a black sheath. 
Dry Dormancy. 

 

D. browniana

Rosette plant that gets 2"(5 cm) in diameter. Grows up to a dozen leaves, and can get a reddish hue if grown in bright light, otherwise stays green.  Flower petals are pink on the outside, but white on the inside.  The plant can produce up to 20 flower scapes, but only one flower per scape.  
Red Tuber 9mm long 6mm wide, in brown papery sheathes. Approx 4-6cm from base. 
Dry Dormancy

D. bulbigena BD

 

D. bulbosa GD or BD

Rosetted sundew divided up in two groups. "Hill" has red to purplish leaves, and white flowers.  "Sand" has smaller leaves. 

 

 

D. erythrorhiza GD

A rosetted sundew with unusual round leaves.  Also has white flowers. "Sand" has up to 6 leaves, while "Hill" has more leaves. 

D. gigantea  

This is the King of the Tuberous Sundews, and possibly the largest sundew of all categories; the plant itself grows up  to 3'(1m)!  It grows almost like a small tree, with a main upright stem with branches from all sides.  A simple sundew to grow, one that any beginner can have luck with.  Often found growing in standing water. Has small white flower clusters.     
Red tubers with no sheath. They measure 3cm in diameter, 1.5 cm long. 
Provide Wet Dormancy. 

 

D. heterophylla PD

Erect plant up to 12".  White or pink flowers. 

 

D. huegelii GD

Erect plant with a crooked, zig-zagging stem up to 35".  White to pink flowers. 

D. macrantha subsp. planchonii

Erect tuberous sundew with a climbing habit, white to light pink flowers.  It can reach up to two feet (60cm) in height. The tentacle leaves will commonly face downwards instead upwards like most Drosera.  Flower panicles have 1-5 white flowers.  
Tuber: White 1cm diameter and covered in wart-like spots.  No Shealth. Stolon is average 6 cm long. 

D. marchantii GD

Climbing sundew that is easy to grow, and can reach to 5 feet!  White to pink flowerer. 

 

D. macrophylla subsp. monantha 

Rosetted sundew up to 3" (8cm) in diameter.  The leaves completely lay flat on the ground, almost like they were slammed down.  A full grown plant will have only up to 10 leaves.  Produces 20-50 flower scapes, but only 1 white flower for each.  Easy to grow rosette sundew. D. macrophylla subsp. macrophylla can have 4-6 flowers per scape. 
Tuber: Orange 1.5 cm long, 1cm wide, Brown papery shealth. Stolon is about 10cm long. 
Dry Dormancy. 

D. menziesii GD, PD,

Few varieties within this plant, a climber up to 40 inches, or small erect plant, with red to purple leaves.  Red to pink flowers. Easy to grow.

D. microphylla GD

An erect sundew, with handsome red flowers. 

D. modesta GD

Climbing plant up to 45". Heavy white bloomer. 

 

D. myriantha PD

Climbing habit.

D. neesii PD

D. orbiculata GD

Small tuberous sundew with round leaves at the end of the stem. 

D. pallida GD

Climbing habit.

D. peltata   GD & BD

This one is listed here and under Temperate Sundews & Tropical Sundews due to it's very unique habit.  Sometimes confused with D. auriculata.  It's a little hard to find, but a good beginner's plant according to Peter at Cambrian Carnivores.   When it gets too hot, cold, or dry, it dies back to a underground bud for dormancy. The plant itself forms a basal rosette, then grows an erect stem up to 8-10" (20-25cm).  Flowers are  white & self-pollinate easily. Native to Australia.  Can be propagated by leaf cuttings.

D. planchonii GD

D. platypoda GD

Erect plant up to 10 inches, white flowers.

D. praefolia   

Flat rosetted plant that grows up to 2.5" (6cm) in diameter. This plant produces 1-3 scapes with a single white flower. The flowers are actually fully developed before any leaves are produced.  
Tuber : White 1cm diamater inside a black sheath.  Stolon is 4cm long. 

Dry Dormancy. 
 

D. prostratoscaposa 

Rosetted sundew with semi-erect leaves early in the growing season, and prostrate in the later.  One of the first tuberous Sundews to flower, and is very fragrant.  Several scapes can appear from a single plant;  and bear white flowers.  
Tuber : Orange, 1.5 cm in diameter, in brown sheaths. Stolon is 5cm long. 
Dry Dormancy. 

 

D. ramellosa   

Forms a dense rosette early in the growing season, then an erect stalk up to 5" (15cm).  Bears white or light pink flowers, half a dozen per scape, that easily self-pollinate.  Can be propagated by leaf cuttings.  If you know the rosette's width or flower size, please tell me. 
Dry Dormancy

D. rosulata

Small rosette sundew with short stemmed flowers. 

D. stolonifera

Small compact that forms a small rosette and an erect stem. Not a profuse bloomer -- only send a few panicles of  pale pink flowers. Produces colonies easily by asexually producing underground tubers moreso than other tuberous sundews. 
Tuber : Red, 6mm long, 6mm diameter, in a black sheath. Main Stolon is 3.5 cm long. 
Dry Dormancy

D. subhirtella PD

Climbing habit. Redish leaves and yellow flowers. 

 

D. sulphurea PD

Green erect sundew up to 20".  Nice yellow flowers.

D. thysanosepala GD

D. whittakeri subp. aberrans

Rosetted plant that gets 4cm in diameter.  Older leaves get a dark reddish hue, very attractive.  Forms colonies quickly by producing an abundant supply of underground tubers asexually.  A single white flower appears on a flower scape; a mature plant will produce up to 5 scapes.  From the pictures in Allen Lowrie's book, it seems the flower is actually larger than the plant! 
Tuber : Orange 8mm long, 8mm diameter, black sheaths. Main stolon is 5cm long. 
Dry Dormancy

 

D. zonaria GD

Rosette plant with green leaves.  White flowering. Forms stolons, and can easily clump the area. 

 

Bibliography 

Carnivorous Plants of Australian, Volume 1,2,3. Allen Lowrie
The Savage Garden, Peter D'Amato. 1998.
Carnivorous Plants of the World, James and Patricia Pietropaolo. 1986
A Brief Guide to Native New Zealand Carnivorous Plants, Http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~elderj/nzcps.html
Carnivorous Plant Database 
Cambrian Carnivores  
Richard Davion : D. glanduligera information

Photo Contributors

Pierre Gelinaud -Webpage-: D. binata, 
Clove Shirley : D. stenopetala 

Last update 07/30/01

Since 2/22/2000