Great sundew
Drosera anglica · Droseraceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant great sundew: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, basal rosette
- Flowering
- Summer (June to August), white or pink flowers
- Adult size
- 5 to 15 cm in height
- Growth
- Slow
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -20 °C)
- Origin
- Boreal and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
- Soil type
- Acidic peat, constantly moist
Care
Watering
Keep the substrate constantly moist, even soggy. Use rainwater or distilled water, as this carnivorous plant dislikes lime and excess minerals. Water from below by pouring water into a saucer rather than onto the leaves.
Light exposure
Choose a very bright location with indirect bright light or semi-shade. English sundew tolerates cool, humid areas better than harsh direct sun. Indoors, place it near a north or east-facing window.
Soil and substrate
Mix a very acidic blend of blonde peat, sphagnum moss and coarse sand (2:1:1). The plant is demanding regarding drainage and the absence of lime. Repot in spring if necessary, in a perforated pot.
Fertilizer
Do not apply fertilizer: this carnivorous plant traps its own nutrients via insects. Dissolved minerals can damage the sticky leaves. An occasional captured insect is enough for its development.
Pruning and cleaning
No pruning is necessary. Simply remove dead or withered leaves in autumn. Gently clean any insect debris if you wish to maintain its aesthetic appearance.
Pests and diseases
Very resistant if conditions are good. Beware of stagnant moisture without air circulation, which promotes root rot. Avoid chemical pesticides: they damage the sticky tentacles and pollute the water. Isolate any infected plant.
Did you know?
English sundew (Drosera anglica) has fascinated botanists for centuries: Darwin himself studied it in his groundbreaking research on plant digestion. Its tiny leaves covered in sticky droplets act as perfect traps for gnats, and the plant secretes digestive enzymes to absorb its prey, a fascinating adaptation mechanism to very poor soils.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Drosera peltataDrosera peltata
- Drosera spatulataDrosera spatulata
- Pink sundewDrosera capillaris
- Drosera aberransDrosera aberrans
- CamelliaCamellia japonica
- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.