Venus Fly Trap Dionaea muscipula
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-oh-NEE-ah mew-SIP-yoo-lah
- Description
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Venus Flytrap is one of the best-known carnivorous plants and is native to NC and SC. It is winter hardy in USDA zones 7-10, but by protecting it through the winter it can be grown in zones 5 and 6. It needs high humidity, wet, sandy, humusy soil, and sun to partial shade. Use a planting mix of whole-fiber sphagnum moss or a mix of equal parts peat moss and coarse vermiculite or sharp sand. Do not allow the soil to dry out.
When insects or spiders disturb any two of the six tactile hairs on the upper surface of the folded leaves the hinged halves of the leaf snap shut, trapping the prey. A chemical secreted by the prey stimulates the flow of the plant's digestive enzymes. Following the digestion of the prey, the nutrients are absorbed and the leaf is reset.
This is an endangered species that cannot be legally collected from the wild.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids, spider mites, and black spot.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden in Wilmington Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Bog Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Cupped Trap'
bright red-centered traps with a more rounded cup form - 'Dente'
the guard hairs resemble sharks teeth, deep red traps, green petioles - 'King Henry'
large, chartreuse to yellow traps with orange-red interiors, fast-growing - 'Red Dragon'
the plant turns red when grown in full sun
- 'Cupped Trap'
- 'Cupped Trap', 'Dente', 'King Henry', 'Red Dragon'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cupped Trap'
bright red-centered traps with a more rounded cup form - 'Dente'
the guard hairs resemble sharks teeth, deep red traps, green petioles - 'King Henry'
large, chartreuse to yellow traps with orange-red interiors, fast-growing - 'Red Dragon'
the plant turns red when grown in full sun
- 'Cupped Trap'
- 'Cupped Trap', 'Dente', 'King Henry', 'Red Dragon'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dionaea
- Species:
- muscipula
- Family:
- Droseraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North Carolina and South Carolina
- Distribution:
- DE , FL , NC , NJ , SC
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Carnivorous
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from June to July
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of 0.7-inch white cup-shaped flowers atop a 4-12 inch leafless stalk in May and June. Each bloom has 5 sepals and petals and 10-12 stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-5 in. leaves are in a low-growing basal rosette of up to 8 bristly leaves. At the end of each leaf is the "trap" which is folded into 2 hinged lobes with bristly edges. The inner surface of traps may be rich, dark red or green depending on the amount of sun received.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
- Wet Soil
