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Sundews (Drosera)
Sundews are carnivorous plants. They vary greatly in size and form and are native to every continent on Earth except Antarctica. Sundews are generally perennial herbaceous plants that grow in acidic soils within bogs and fens. They trap their insect prey within sticky glands of the plant, where they are then digested by enzymes. 
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Sundews
Feedback
Attributes of Sundews
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Ideal Temperature
10 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Sundews
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Dicotyledons
Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies
Family
Sundew
Genus
Sundews
Distribution of Sundews
Feedback
Distribution Map of Sundews
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Sundews
Feedback
Sundews comprises carnivorous plants that require high humidity, consistent moisture, and full to partial sunlight. They thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic soil and prefer temperatures ranging from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Common challenges include mold, rot due to overwatering, and pests like aphids. Seasonally, sundews may require protection from intense heat and dormancy in winter, depending on the species. Careful water management and sensitivity to environmental changes are crucial throughout the year.
Exploring the Sundews Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Cape sundew
Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) is a small perennial carnivorous plant from South Africa. It is the most commonly cultivated sundew species, and due to prolific seed production, it has even been proclaimed invasive in New Zealand.
Pink Sundew
Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris) is a carnivorous plant found in wet, boggy areas of the southeastern United States and parts of the Caribbean. Its leaves lie flat on the ground where their outstretched red tentacles snare insects using sticky "dew" drops that clog the insect's respiratory system.
Spoon-leaved sundew
Drosera spatulata is a species of sundew that is native to southeastern Asia, and parts of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The plant earns its Latin specific epithet from its spatula- or spoon-shaped leaves that grow in a rosette pattern. Like other sundews, Drosera spatulata is a carnivorous plant covered in sticky glands that attract and trap insects.
Spoonleaf sundew
Spoonleaf sundew is a carnivorous plant. Its leaves are covered with glands that produce sweet nectar to attract insects. The plant captures insects with its sticky hairs and then secrets digestive enzymes to absorb the insect’s nutrients. Spoonleaf sundew is extremely cold-hardy and often used as an ornamental plant.
Roundleaf sundew
You’ll find roundleaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), a carnivorous plant, in bogs and freshwater marshes. The species devours insects, which are lured to the sticky drops on its leaves. Once the bug tastes the sweetness of these drops, it's stuck to the plant’s tentacles. The plant then proceeds to dissolve the insect using enzymes to extract ammonia and other nutrients.
Forked sundew
Forked sundew (Drosera binata) may look quite innocuous but don't be fooled because it is a Carnivorous plant that feeds on protozoa and small animals in its watery habitats. Since it is a water-loving plant, it grows best in terrariums. The specific Latin name binata means having pairs which is in reference to its leaves which split into double forks.
Pygmy sundew
Pygmy sundew, one of the most common sundews, is a tiny carnivorous herb that traps and digests its victim with glue-like ooze. It is native to Australia and can be found in places with wet winters and dry summers. It can grow both indoors and outdoors.
Shield sundew
Shield sundew (Drosera peltata) is a carnivorous plant that attracts and feeds on insects. It is one of the easiest plants to grow in the Drosera genus and isn't particularly water or temperature-sensitive. In the wild, this plant can be found in a variety of habitats from pine forests to grasslands.
All Species of Sundews
Cape sundew
Cape sundew
Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) is a small perennial carnivorous plant from South Africa. It is the most commonly cultivated sundew species, and due to prolific seed production, it has even been proclaimed invasive in New Zealand.
Pink Sundew
Pink Sundew
Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris) is a carnivorous plant found in wet, boggy areas of the southeastern United States and parts of the Caribbean. Its leaves lie flat on the ground where their outstretched red tentacles snare insects using sticky "dew" drops that clog the insect's respiratory system.
Spoon-leaved sundew
Spoon-leaved sundew
Drosera spatulata is a species of sundew that is native to southeastern Asia, and parts of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The plant earns its Latin specific epithet from its spatula- or spoon-shaped leaves that grow in a rosette pattern. Like other sundews, Drosera spatulata is a carnivorous plant covered in sticky glands that attract and trap insects.
Spoonleaf sundew
Spoonleaf sundew
Spoonleaf sundew is a carnivorous plant. Its leaves are covered with glands that produce sweet nectar to attract insects. The plant captures insects with its sticky hairs and then secrets digestive enzymes to absorb the insect’s nutrients. Spoonleaf sundew is extremely cold-hardy and often used as an ornamental plant.
Roundleaf sundew
Roundleaf sundew
You’ll find roundleaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), a carnivorous plant, in bogs and freshwater marshes. The species devours insects, which are lured to the sticky drops on its leaves. Once the bug tastes the sweetness of these drops, it's stuck to the plant’s tentacles. The plant then proceeds to dissolve the insect using enzymes to extract ammonia and other nutrients.
Forked sundew
Forked sundew
Forked sundew (Drosera binata) may look quite innocuous but don't be fooled because it is a Carnivorous plant that feeds on protozoa and small animals in its watery habitats. Since it is a water-loving plant, it grows best in terrariums. The specific Latin name binata means having pairs which is in reference to its leaves which split into double forks.
Pygmy sundew
Pygmy sundew
Pygmy sundew, one of the most common sundews, is a tiny carnivorous herb that traps and digests its victim with glue-like ooze. It is native to Australia and can be found in places with wet winters and dry summers. It can grow both indoors and outdoors.
Shield sundew
Shield sundew
Shield sundew (Drosera peltata) is a carnivorous plant that attracts and feeds on insects. It is one of the easiest plants to grow in the Drosera genus and isn't particularly water or temperature-sensitive. In the wild, this plant can be found in a variety of habitats from pine forests to grasslands.
Dwarf sundew
Dwarf sundew
Dwarf sundew (Drosera brevifolia) is a small carnivorous plant from the southeastern United States. Like all sundews, it sports numerous appendages tipped with sticky "dew" that can trap insects. The plant lives in drier areas than most sundews, and will die off at the height of summer. New seedlings return in the fall.
English sundew
English sundew
English sundew (Drosera anglica) is a temperate carnivorous herb found in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Japan. It grows in unshaded marshes and bogs. Like most sundews, english sundew sports multitudes of hairlike structures tipped with sticky "dew." Insects get caught in the dew, and the paddle-shaped leaf then curls around them to begin digestion.
Alpine sundew
Alpine sundew
The leaves of Drosera arcturi are linear, 1 to 5 cm long, undivided, and range in colour from pale green to muddy brown, to maroon if subjected to full sunlight. Young leaves begin at the center of the plant and are folded along their center. After two or three leaves have formed, the nominal form produces a small, solitary white flower, 1.3 cm across, which is borne on a short stalk in summer, and positioned near the top of the leaves. The giant, lowland form produces 1–5 flowers on a long inflorescence up to 25 cm long.
Scented sundew
Scented sundew
Plants are 4 to 8 cm in diameter, with broadly spathulate leaves arranged in a rosette. These may be green, orange-yellow or red in colour and are 1 to 1.5 cm long and 9 to 13 mm wide. Up to 20 white flowers are produced overall, with multiple flowers open at any one time.
Catapult-flypaper trap
Catapult-flypaper trap
It is 2.5 to 5 cm tall and grows in most soil conditions. It produces orange flowers from summer to fall.
Madagascar sundew
Madagascar sundew
Drosera madagascariensis is a robust stem-forming species with a clearly visible stem, which stands upright in the case of younger plants and either uses its leaves to anchor itself to surrounding vegetation as it matures or bends over and forms a scrambling stem.
Indian sundew
Indian sundew
Drosera indica is an unbranched, annual herbaceous plant, supported by a fibrous root system and reaching a height of 5–50 cm (2–20 in). Leaves are narrowly linear, up to 10 cm [4 in] long with 1–1.5 cm [0.4–0.6 in] pedicels. Young plants stand upright, while older ones form scrambling stems with only the newest growth exhibiting an upright habit. The plant can be yellow-green to maroon in color. Flower petals can be white, pink, orange, or purple. Its chromosome count is 2n=28.
Australian sundew
Australian sundew
Australian sundew is a carnivorous plant that lures, traps, and dissolves insects with its sticky, dew-like excretions. The plant's unique leaves are covered with tentacle-like structures lined with sticky droplets, which entrap the prey. The plant is named after Alice, the daughter of botanist Charles L. Praeger.
Drosera pulchella
Drosera pulchella
Drosera pulchella is a carnivorous species with a compact rosette of spatula-shaped leaves covered in red, sticky tentacles that trap insects. Displaying vibrant, petite blooms, this species thrives in nutrient-poor, wet conditions often found in its native Australian swamps and marshlands. Its distinctive trapping mechanism allows drosera pulchella to supplement its diet, compensating for the harsh soil of its environment.
Drosera erythrorhiza subsp. squamosa
Drosera erythrorhiza subsp. squamosa
Drosera erythrorhiza subsp. squamosa is distinguished by its vibrant red, sticky tentacles that ensnare insects, an adaptation to the nutrient-poor soils it inhabits. It exhibits a basal rosette of fleshy leaves, each covered in glandular hairs for prey capture. Blooming with small, white to pink flowers, this sundew thrives in wet, sandy terrains, showcasing its carnivorous nature.
Drosera platypoda
Drosera platypoda
Drosera platypoda is a captivating carnivorous plant with slender, erect leaves coated in sticky, glandular hairs. These hairs glisten with a dew-like secretion, luring and entrapping unsuspecting insects. This adaptation enables drosera platypoda to thrive in nutrient-poor, boggy soils by supplementing its diet with prey. Its notable features include vibrant green foliage and a striking resemblance to tentacles, which coil dramatically when capturing food.
Pale Rainbow
Pale Rainbow
Pale Rainbow is a carnivorous plant marked by its slender, erect leaves coated with sticky, glandular hairs that ensnare insects. The leaves are uniquely hued in pale colors, reflecting the plant's adaptation to nutrient-poor, sunny environments. Its delicate, yet visually arresting form is well-suited for the insect-rich habitats it thrives in.
Slenderleaf sundew
Slenderleaf sundew
Slenderleaf sundew is a slender, carnivorous plant with a notable linear leaf structure. Its sticky, glandular tentacles ensnare tiny insects, vital for survival in nutrient-poor, waterlogged soils. This species thrives in sunny, open bogs and wetlands, displaying delicate white to pinkish flowers that contrast its green to red-tinted foliage.
Scented Sundew
Scented Sundew
Scented Sundew is a captivating carnivorous plant with a unique adaptation to nutrient-poor environments. It lures, captures, and digests insects using sticky, glandular tendrils that are spirally arranged on elongated stems. Its tiny, glistening traps give it a sparkling appearance, an alluring yet deadly feature for unsuspecting prey. The plant typically grows in boggy, acidic conditions where it flourishes despite the challenging soil.
Drosera kaieteurensis
Drosera kaieteurensis
Drosera kaieteurensis is a striking carnivorous plant predominantly found clinging to the sheer rock faces of Kaieteur Falls, Guyana. Its leaves are characterized by reddish tentacles with sticky secretions to trap unsuspecting insects. Thriving in nutrient-poor conditions, drosera kaieteurensis compensates by deriving sustenance from its prey, showcasing a vibrant adaptation to its environment.
Drosera ordensis
Drosera ordensis
Drosera ordensis is characterized by its striking insect-trapping leaves, each bearing sticky, tentacle-like protrusions. Thriving in nutrient-poor soils, its carnivorous nature evolved to supplement nutrition, often found in damp, open habitats. This species exhibits a rosette formation with reddish tentacles that glisten in sunlight, luring and ensnaring prey, a testament to its adaptability in harsh conditions.
Drosera huegelii
Drosera huegelii
Drosera huegelii is a carnivorous species prominently featuring sticky, tentacle-laden leaves that ensnare insects for nutrition. This adaptation is particularly advantageous in its nutrient-poor native habitats. The leaves are arranged in a rosette, and during flowering, drosera huegelii produces tall stalks with numerous, small, and typically pink blooms that contrast against its green to red foliage.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Sundews
Drosera
Sundews are carnivorous plants. They vary greatly in size and form and are native to every continent on Earth except Antarctica. Sundews are generally perennial herbaceous plants that grow in acidic soils within bogs and fens. They trap their insect prey within sticky glands of the plant, where they are then digested by enzymes.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Sundews
Feedback
Attributes of Sundews
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Ideal Temperature
10 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Sundews
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Sundew Genus
Sundews Distribution of Sundews
Feedback
Distribution Map of Sundews
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Sundews
Feedback
Sundews comprises carnivorous plants that require high humidity, consistent moisture, and full to partial sunlight. They thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic soil and prefer temperatures ranging from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Common challenges include mold, rot due to overwatering, and pests like aphids. Seasonally, sundews may require protection from intense heat and dormancy in winter, depending on the species. Careful water management and sensitivity to environmental changes are crucial throughout the year.
Exploring the Sundews Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Cape sundew
Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) is a small perennial carnivorous plant from South Africa. It is the most commonly cultivated sundew species, and due to prolific seed production, it has even been proclaimed invasive in New Zealand.
Pink Sundew
Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris) is a carnivorous plant found in wet, boggy areas of the southeastern United States and parts of the Caribbean. Its leaves lie flat on the ground where their outstretched red tentacles snare insects using sticky "dew" drops that clog the insect's respiratory system.
Spoon-leaved sundew
Drosera spatulata is a species of sundew that is native to southeastern Asia, and parts of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The plant earns its Latin specific epithet from its spatula- or spoon-shaped leaves that grow in a rosette pattern. Like other sundews, Drosera spatulata is a carnivorous plant covered in sticky glands that attract and trap insects.
Spoonleaf sundew
Spoonleaf sundew is a carnivorous plant. Its leaves are covered with glands that produce sweet nectar to attract insects. The plant captures insects with its sticky hairs and then secrets digestive enzymes to absorb the insect’s nutrients. Spoonleaf sundew is extremely cold-hardy and often used as an ornamental plant.
Show More Species
All Species of Sundews
Cape sundew
Pink Sundew
Spoon-leaved sundew
Spoonleaf sundew
Roundleaf sundew
Forked sundew
Pygmy sundew
Shield sundew
Dwarf sundew
English sundew
Alpine sundew
Scented sundew
Catapult-flypaper trap
Madagascar sundew
Indian sundew
Australian sundew
Drosera pulchella
Drosera erythrorhiza subsp. squamosa
Drosera platypoda
Pale Rainbow
Slenderleaf sundew
Scented Sundew
Drosera kaieteurensis
Drosera ordensis
Drosera huegelii
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
