South African Temperate Sundews

Most of these plants are rosettes that grow during the cool and moist winter months, but die back to their roots or rhizomes during the hotter and drier summer. This pattern is very similar to the Australian cycle, but these plants to no form tubers -- they only die back to their roots or rhizomes.  

Growing Media:

A mixture of 2 parts peat and 1 part sand is sufficient.  

Temperatures:

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Water & Humidity:

Their growing season is during the cooler winter months, where they receive plenty of water and humidity. This time period last an average of nine months. They require a dormancy period for about three months; the temperatures are much warmer and drier.  

 

Light:

Grow in bright direct or indirect light.  

 

Dormancy Requirements:

During the dry and warm months, these plants may die back to their roots or rhizomes, depending on how sever. Trying to grow these plants without a dormancy period will slowly result in death. 

 

Asexual Reproduction:

Take a leaf,  place on moist soil and give high humidity & light, with temperature around 75F. I have increased chances when I do not remove the leaf from the plant, but pin it to the soil.  This is much easier with larger varieties. With the smaller varieties, it's a little tricky. 

A few of these plants will reproduce by their roots also. If you see a new plantlet away from the main one, you can dig it up carefully and sever the runner-root and replant.  I listed below which plants are susceptible to asexual reproduction though these methods. 

Sexual Reproduction:

I listed those plants that self-pollinate. Collect seeds when the capsules dry, and store during the plants' normal dormant months. In the spring, you can sprinkle the seeds on moist peat/sand, and provide bright light and high humidity. 

Take

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. 

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D. acaulis 

The red or purple flowers do not appear on a long Drosera-typical scape, but on very short stems from the center of the rosette. The plant is a dwarf rosette with 1-2 very fine, thin roots. 

 

D. alba

Leaves get 3/4" (2cm) long. Blooms 1-7 white flowers. 

D. aliciae 

The 'Alice Sundew' is an African Marsh plant that dies back to the roots when it gets too dry.  Leaves get up to 2" (5cm) long. Leaves are greenish with red tentacles.  Quickly spreads by root stolons and can form a small colony. Propagates easily from seed, leaf, and root cuttings. Has purple flowers 1/2" (1.5cm) wide. 

 
© Pierre Gelinaud

 

D. burkeana  

A South African species with 2-12 pale pink to white flowers that self-pollinate. Forms a flat rosette sundew with red wedge-shaped prostrate leaves that only get 1 1/2" (4cm) long. It dies back to the roots during the dry season, but seems to tolerate being grown year round.   Can be propagated by leaf cuttings. 

D. capensis    

The 'Cape Sundew' is probably the most common Sundew available. It's a South African native, easily obtained from growers and easy to grow from seed.  Erect leaves can reach up to 6"(15cm). Many pink flowers are born on each scape; the plant is self-pollinating. It doesn't mind growing year-round, but will die back to the roots if it needs to. Below is a flower I had on one of mine a few years back, and a double-flower stalk bloomer I had in 2000. 

There are a few varieties available in the market. 'Narrow' is a much more compact plant. 'Alba' is a variety that has white flowers and much lighter tentacles.  'Red' is one of my favorites; the leaves are much darker red (if bright light is present) and flowers are darker pink. 

They all can be propagated by leaf cuttings.

   
© Joe Harden

© James Manhart

 

D. cistiflora

Has large pink, white, yellow, or red flowers. 

 

D. cuneifolia 

Pink to reddish purple flowers. The plant forms a loose rosette, wedge-shaped leaves reaching 3" (8cm).

 

 

© Pierre Gelinaud

 

D. dielsiana

Rosetted sundew with pink, mauve, violet, or white flowers. 

 

D. glabripes

Forms a loose rosette of scrambling stems with green, spoon shaped leaves. The entire plant can grow 3" (8cm) in diameter). Flowers 6-12 blooms. 

D. hilaris

Rosetted sundew with Magenta or red/purple flowers.  Once the rosette is fully formed, grows an erect stem.  

 

D. natalensis

'Natal Sundew' with leaves up to 3/4" (2cm), with a relaxed habit and not too covered with tentacles. The leaves are close together on an upright stem.  Small flowers are white, pink, or purple.  Grows native in swampy areas, so I assume it can also be grown as a Tropical. 

D. pauciflora

Rosetted sundew with white, yellow, or pink flowers. 

 

D. ramentaceae

Erect plant with magenta flowers

 

D. regia

'King Sundew' is a large strap-leaf sundew, with leaves reaching 2'(61cm). They die back to a rhizome when it gets hot and water dries up. Fairly large pink flower. Doesn't self-pollinate.  This plant doesn't ship well, so it's best for you to obtain seeds.  Out of all the African sundews, this one has the largest rhizome. 

D. trinervia

Small rosette plants that grows wedge shaped leaves that only grow to 1/2" (1.5cm).  Puts out 2-3 flower stalks with 1-10 white or violet flowers. Found also in damp areas in Africa, but loses it's leaves when it gets too hot, and returns from their roots.  

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
Carnivorous Plant Database 
Cambrian Carnivores  
Phil Wilson : D. trinervia information

Photo Contributors

Pierre Gelinaud -Webpage-: D. cuneifolia, D. aliciae
James Manhart of Texas A&M Dept. of Biology : D. capensis 

Last update 07/30/01

Since 2/22/2000