Spoonleaf Sundew Drosera intermedia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- DROSS-er-uh in-ter-MEE-dee-uh
- Description
-
Spoonleaf sundew is a native carnivorous plant in the sundew family (Droseraceae). This species grows in bogs and wet areas throughout Europe, eastern North America, and parts of eastern South America. The species epithet is Latin for “intermediate,” but the reference is obscure.
The spoonleaf sundew is hardy and easy to grow, but even in optimum conditions, it is short-lived. It thrives in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Like all carnivorous plants, it grows best in a nutrient-free medium that is kept moist with distilled water or rainwater. Do not fertilize the plant; it will get all the nutrients it needs from the insects it traps.
This species usually grows as a rosette, but vigorous plants will produce a short, elongate, leafy stem.
This sundew can be grown outside in bog gardens, troughs or containers. Grow it in a native garden, rain garden or children’s garden. This species can also be grown indoors. Place the plant in a small pot and set the pot in a tray of distilled or rainwater.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Drosera
- Species:
- intermedia
- Family:
- Droseraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America, Europe, South America
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 3 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 3 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Carnivorous
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dry, oval capsule splits open when ripe, to reveal redish brown bumpy seeds. Displays from August to October
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Symmetrical blooms pink to red or white appear on a one-sided, scorpioid cyme of 3 to 8 flowers from July to September. The thin bare flower stalk (scape) starts curled and unfurls to display the flowers. Flowers are composed of 5 petals and 5 yellow-tipped stamens, and a pistil with three styles.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, bright green, paddle shaped leaves 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch wide by less than 1 inch long. Red sticky hairs on top trap insects. At the base of the plant the leaves are more congested, spreading out as they move up the stem.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- 3/8" to 3" long
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
- Wet Soil
