Common Sundew Drosera rotundifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- DROSS-er-uh ro-tun-dih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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Roundleaf Sundew is a native carnivorous perennial found in boggy areas of mountains, or along coastal plain wetlands. It is found along the Little River in the sandhills and in the western mountains of North Carolina. It grows 2-10 inches high with a shallow root system. The round leaves generally are flat or nearly so to the ground and the flowering stalk uncurls to reveal small white 5-petaled blooms in summer.
The leaves have a sticky substance to which small prey adheres. Stalked glands near the edge of a leaf slowly bend inward, securing and placing an entrapped organism in the digestive area of stalkless glands. This allows the plant to grow in nutrient-poor areas.
This plant grows in acidic boggy areas in sun to partial shade. It can be grown in bog gardens and even terrariums but must be given a dormancy period. It does best in cool summer climates.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Drosera
- Species:
- rotundifolia
- Family:
- Droseraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Hemisphere
- Distribution:
- AK , AL , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MS , MT , NC , ND , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV Canada: BC
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Carnivorous
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
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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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a capsule with many small, light brown seeds. Displays from July to October
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small white to pinkish flowers occur at the end of a long, leafless stem rising above the leaf rosette. The flowers are about ¼ inch wide, with five petals and five tiny sepals. The flowers grow in one-sided clusters. Bloom from June to September.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small basal rosette of reddish, sticky round leaves 3/4 inch across. The upper surfaces are covered with reddish, glandular hairs, each tipped with a clear, sticky secretion.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Leaf stalks are green or red and flat, ½ to 2 inches long, and covered with fine hairs. The flowering stem is tightly curled and unfurls as the flowers bloom.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
