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Pink Sundew Drosera capillaris

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
DROSS-er-uh kap-ill-AIR-iss
Description

Pink Sundew is a native annual or short-lived herbaceous perennial found in wet, peaty, pine savannas.  Although considered an annual, it can continue to grow through the winter if kept in a warm and bright location such as a greenhouse or indoors.   They are not frost tender, but cannot handle a hard, prolonged frost.  This plant can live for years if you do not all them to bloom. Cut off the flower stalks as they appear to prevent blooming.  If allowed to bloom, collect the seeds immediately.  Once the plant blooms, it will die or decline.  

It is a member of the sundew family, which are carnivorous herbs.  It is a small, low-lying plant with rounded traps and sticky tentacles.  Although the plants are small in size, they can form large and robust rosettes.

If placed in full sun, the entire plant will appear red in color.  In an area with less sunlight, the leaves will be a greenish color with red tenacles.

It makes an ideal plant for a terrarium.  Place the plant in a small pot, and set the pot in a tray of water.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Emerald's Envy'
    White flower
'Emerald's Envy'
Tags:
#native perennial#NC native#herbaceous perennial#native annual#food source summer#peat#food source fall#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#Audubon
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Emerald's Envy'
    White flower
'Emerald's Envy'
Tags:
#native perennial#NC native#herbaceous perennial#native annual#food source summer#peat#food source fall#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#Audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Drosera
    Species:
    capillaris
    Family:
    Droseraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tropical and Subtropical Americas
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 1 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 3 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Displays from July to October
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Pink flowers bloom from May to August
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Orbicular
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are prostrate, spreading horizontally along the ground.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Houseplants
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Predatory Insects
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Short-lived