Pygmy Sundews

I don't own any Pygmys, and I don't know why not.    Some of the smallest sundews are in this group, but good things come in small packages, right?  They are native to Southwestern Australia, and like to grow in the cool moist winters, and go dormant in the hot dry summer.  The main characteristic is the translucent stipules from the base of the plant stems.  The stipules in this group are larger than the others 3 groups.   Instead of buds or rhizomes, these plants form Gemmae in the center of the plant.   Propagation by Gemmae is the preferred method, since leaf cuttings seldom work.   To induce production of gemmae, lower the temps to 40-70F, and keep soil moist.  There will be a bunching of plant tissue in the center.  Gemmae structures will develop, and the plant can be carefully turned upside down, and they will fall when you brush the tissues. Plant immediately, and you should have a new plant quickly. 

Growing Media:

Grow in deep pots (6-10") and give a mix of peat, sand, and perlite.  This is why they are not best for small terrariums.

Temperatures, Water, & Humidity:

 

They can grow year round in temperatures ranging 40-70F (and kept moist & humid), but go dormant when it gets dry and temperatures reach over 80F. 

Light:

 

Grow in indirect or filtered sunlight.

 

Some specefic information:

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. androsacea

D. callistos 

 

D. dichrosepala

 

D. drummondii

 

D. glanduligera

Multitude of red flowers, leaves are yellowish green.  Reproduces from seed quite easily.  The only one of the Pygmy sundews that doesn't reproduce easily from Gemmae.

D. grievei

A compact rosette plant. White flowers are almost as large as the diameter of the plant. Very sparse in their native habitat, and may be hard to find from growers. 
Gemmae are broadly ovate, and are 1 mm long and wide.  
Dry Dormancy

 D. lasiantha

Compact rosette plant that has several dark pink flowers per scape.  The flower scape has very short glands. Flower Closely related to D. dichrosepala and S. scorpioides.  D. dichrosepala has a glandular scape, D. scorpioides' scaps are covered with long, white, wool-like glands.  and pandurate petals, while the petals of D. lasiantha are obovate. 
Gemmae is ovate 1.7mm long, 1.4mm wide, 1mm thick. 
Dry Dormancy

 

D. leucoblasta

 

D. miniata

Red flowering.  Leaves are whitish to brownish yellow.

 

D. nitidula

Easy to grow. Grow in wet soil year round.

D. nivea

Rosetted sundew with 1 scape usually, 5-10 white flowers. Unlike D. citrina (closest relative), the flowers are white and 1.5 mm long pedicels.  D. citrina has yellow petals, white at the base, with 3mm long pedicels. 

Gemmae is elliptic, 1mm long .7mm wide .6mm thick. 
Dry Dormancy.  

 

D. occidentalis

 

D. omissa

 

D. paleacea

Small, tight plant with a multitude of white flowers, close together.  Easy to grow.

 

D. platystigma

 

D. pulchella

Flowers can be orange, red, or pink.  Doesn't flower to much, only 5 for each stalk. Easy to grow. Grow in wet soil year round.

 

D. pycnoblasta

 

D. pygmaea

Single white flower for each flower scape.  Very small! Easy to grow. Grow in wet soil, year round.

 

D. scorpioides

D. silvicola

Pygmy that produces an open rosette of semi-erect leaves.  1 flower scape can have several dark pink flowers.  
Gemmae is ovate 1.6mm long, 1.3mm wide, .7mm thick. The scape has short glandular projections, while it's D. barbigera has curly-wolly glands. 
Dry Dormancy. 

D. stelliflora

Rosette sundew with an open growth habit, semi-erect leaves.  Can grow up to 5 flower scapes, each with 50 or so white flowers.  Can form colonies quickly! 
Gemmae is 1.7mm long, 1.5mm wide, 1mm thick.
Dry Dormancy

 

D. sewelliae

Drosera callistos © Mark Pogany 1997

Drosera occidentalis © Mark Pogany 1997

Drosera pygmaea © Mark Pogany 1997

Last update 07/30/01

Since 2/22/2000