We’ve found growing carnivorous plants to be easy, and very entertaining. All you need is the right soil, the right location and rainwater (not usually in short supply in this country). We find growing and observing the plants to be very rewarding. The colours are spectacular and vary throughout the growing season. Their different ways of catching prey makes these meat-eaters special.
We sell a variety of carnivorous plants, for different locations (in- and outdoor, sun or shade), and with varying hardiness. The plants are listed below, with basic growing instructions. There is more information in the FAQ section of our website and we highly recommend you research your plant on the web.
Our selection of carnivorous plants has grown considerably in the last few years. If you cannot find what you want in the shop, have a look at our Growlist or contact us:
All carnivorous plants require rain water, which is usually easily collected in this country. Rainwater collected in a waterbutt out of the sun will keep for a long time. Alternatives to rainwater: distilled water, de-ionised water, reverse osmosis water, dehumidifier water.
Carnivorous plants are very susceptible to the wrong soil. We grow our plants in our own mix of compost (available from our shop). We have been trialling peat free compost, in which Sarracenia usually do well, regardless of the mix. Other carnivorous plants, seeds and seedlings are much more difficult. If you do not wish to buy online, why not visit us at the nursery (by appointment only).
Repotting: when the roots are showing clearly, for most best done in early spring.
Feeding: we have never found this to be necessary, as all of the plants only require a few insects per year to survive.
Dionaea Muscipula – Venus Fly Trap
The Venus Fly Trap is possibly the most well known of the carnivorous family.
Most people we meet at the shows have had one when they were younger (and are still trying to stick their fingers in the traps). They are easy to care for, requiring similar conditions to the other varieties of carnivorous plants we sell.
How they feed:
The Venus Fly Trap does exactly what it says on the tin. They produce nectar to attract insects. Their colouring has a similar effect. They usually have three trigger hairs on each side of the trap, and if two of these trigger hairs are stimulated, the trap is sprung. Increased movement causes the trap to close tighter and tighter. The insect is “squeezed” and the juice digested.
How to care for your plant:
Summer
- Full sunshine, in- or outdoors
- Rainwater only, sit in water (on a saucer or tray)
- Feeding: If you are worried, and your plant is indoors, stick it outside on a sunny day and watch it go to work
Winter
- We recommend a cool, airy, light area, frost free (under 10°C is preferable), full sun if possible.
- The plants will have a dormancy period. This can vary from going totally underground to browning of the leaves (remove).
- During the dormancy period, the main risk to the plant is rotting caused by fungal diseases. It is therefore important to reduce the watering, just keeping the plant damp, but not to let the plant dry out completely.
Sarracenia – American Pitcher Plant
These American Pitcher Plants look stunning with their various colours and sizes. We consider Sarracenia to be easy to grow, frost hardy (care should be taken with young plants in containers), only requiring a location with direct sunshine and a saucer of rain water. They can be grown both in- and outdoors but benefit from colder winters. Indoors the pitchers will more likely be taller, as they will not be battered by wind and rain. Especially the Sarracenia Purpurea hybrids are well suited to outdoor conditions. They do require specific soil, garden soil is not suitable. An unheated greenhouse or conservatory is ideal for these plants, but they also do great in bog gardens and as pond marginals
How they feed:
Pitcher plants attract insects with their colour, and nectar produced around the mouth of the pitcher. In some the shape of the pitcher means the insect becomes wedged once they have fallen in. Other pitchers fill with water and the insect will drown. Both also have downward facing hairs inside the pitcher, making it even harder for the insect to get out. The plant produces an enzyme to digest the insects.
How to care for your plant:
- Full sunshine, in- or outdoors
- Rainwater only, sit in water (on a saucer)
- Feeding: If you are worried, and your plant is indoors, stick it outside on a sunny day and watch it go to work
Summer
- Full sunshine, in- or outdoors
- Rainwater only, sit in water (on a saucer) – the plants like to sit in a lot of water in summer
Winter
- We recommend a cool, airy, light area, between -10 °C to 10 °C .
- The plants will have a dormancy period. This can vary from going totally underground to browning of the leaves (remove). Pitcher Plants sometimes produce winter leaves (non-carnivorous)
- During the dormancy period, the main risk to the plant is rotting caused by fungal diseases. It is therefore important to reduce the watering, just keeping the plant damp, but not to let the plant dry out completely.
Drosera – Sundew
Sundews can be found worldwide, on all continents. They stand out with their shiny droplets, which are used to “glue” their prey to them. We sell many different varieties, some more difficult than others, including three native sundews (Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia and Drosera rotundofolia). Some are hardy, including the native sundews, others need protection from the frost, and do well on sunny windowsills, heated greenhouse or conservatory.
How they feed:
The Sundews produce a sticky substance (known as dew). This (as well as their colour) attracts the insects, who are then trapped in the dew droplets (they are “glued” to the leaf). The trapped insect trying to free itself, stimulates the tentacles to close around it (in most cases). The plant then produces an enzyme to digest the insect.
How to care for your plant:
- We sell a large variety of different sundews with different care requirements. We are currently in the process of updating the care leaflets, so in the meantime please make sure you research your particular plant on the web.
- Rainwater only, sit in water (on a saucer)
- The native plants will have a dormancy period, when they will go underground. Drosera binata and Drosera filiformis will form a winter bud. Some tuberous sundews will be dormant in summer, most non hardy sundews will be dormant in winter.
- During the dormancy period, the main risk to the plant is rotting caused by fungal diseases. It is therefore important to reduce the watering, just keeping the plant damp, but not to let the plant dry out completely.
- Feeding: If you are worried, and your plant is indoors, stick it outside on a sunny day and watch it go to work.
Darlingtonia californica – Cobra Lily
Cobra Lilies originate in the US (Oregon and California), and are often found on forest slopes and next to streams. This hardy pitcher plant has a cobra like appearance, and does best in semi shade.
How they feed:
As with other pitcher plants, they attract insects with their colour, and nectar produced around the mouth of the pitcher. The mouth is underneath the head, behind its ‘fangs’. Light coming through the hood of the pitcher creates the illusion that there is an escape out of the top, which lures the insects deeper inside the plant. The plant then produces an enzyme to digest the insect.
How to care for your plant:
- Grow outside or in an unheated greenhouse, all year round, in full sun or semi shade.
- Rainwater only, water from the base, keep the plants standing in water.
- The plants do not like warm stagnant water in the summer, so refresh the water regularly.
- Do well in pure spaghnum moss, available from our website.
Cephalotus – Australian pitcher plant, Albany pitcher plant
Australian picture plants have dark ‘hairy’ pitchers witch beautiful markings. They are rumoured to be quite difficult to grow, but we have found them fairly easy.
How they feed:
As with other pitcher plants, they attract insects with their colour, and nectar produced around the mouth of the pitcher. It has downward facing hooks around the rim of the pitcher, making it even harder for the insect to get out. The plant then proceeds to digest the insects.
How to care for your plant:
- Full sunshine, indoors or cool greenhouse/conservatory
- Rainwater only, we water from the top, let the plant drink the water in between watering.
- The plants will have a dormancy period, when they may not look as good as in the summer.
- During the dormancy period, the main risk to the plant is rotting caused by fungal diseases. It is therefore important to reduce the watering, just keeping the plant damp, but not to let the plant dry out completely.
- Repotting: when the roots clearly show out of the bottom of the pot
Heliamphora – South American pitcher plant, Sun pitcher
South American pitcher plants vary in colour from green to bright red. They prefer higher humidity
How they feed:
As with other pitcher plants, they attract insects with their colour, and nectar. The nectar on this plant is found on the ‘nectar tip’ which hangs over the pitcher, waiting for an insect to lose their footing! The plant produces an enzyme to digest the insects.
How to care for your plant:
- Indirect sun, direct sunshine in the late afternoon is okay. Heliamphora does not like to get too hot.
- Rainwater, water from the top (it is ok to have water stood in the pitchers). It can be stood in water, but let it drink the water before re-watering (so not constantly standing in water)
- It is very important to mist the plant daily, especially in the summer.
- Feeding: If you are worried give it an insect in one of the mature pitchers.
- Repotting: when the roots clearly show out of the bottom of the pot
Pinguicula – Butterwort
Butterworts can be found worldwide, on all continents. They stand out with their large colourful flowers. We sell easy to grow, Mexican varieties, but we do grow our native Pinguicula vulgaris and Pinguicula grandiflora. Apart from the native Butterworts, they all need protection from the frost, and do well on windowsills, in sun or semi-shade.
How they feed:
The leaves of the butterwort are coated in a sweet sticky ‘dew’. This (as well as their colour) attracts the insects, who are then trapped on the leaves. The plant then produces an enzyme to digest the insect.
How to care for your plant:
- A position on a windowsill, heated greenhouse or conservatory, where they get a lot of light, semi-shade.
- Rainwater on a saucer (so the plants are standing in water).
- The plants will have a dormancy period, when their leaves become non-carnivorous.
- During the dormancy period, the main risk to the plant is rotting caused by fungal diseases. It is therefore important to reduce the watering, just keeping the plant damp, but not to let the plant dry out completely.
- Repotting: these plants have very shallow roots. Repot with care, once it has outgrown the pot
Utricularia – Bladderwort
Bladderworts can be found worldwide, on all continents. They stand out with their beautiful flowers, which seem to last forever. We sell easy to grow varieties, but there are native varieties: Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor and Utricularia vulgaris. Apart from the native bladderworts, they all need protection from the frost, and do well on windowsills.
How they feed:
Bladderworts catch prey either underneath the soil or in the water, with traps attached to their roots.
How to care for your plant:
- A position on a windowsill, heated greenhouse or conservatory, where they get a lot of light, semi-shade.
- Rainwater on a saucer (so the plants are standing in water).
- The plants will have a dormancy period.
- During the dormancy period, the main risk to the plant is rotting caused by fungal diseases. It is therefore important to reduce the watering, just keeping the plant damp, but not to let the plant dry out completely.
- Repotting: when the roots clearly show out of the bottom of the pot
Nepenthes – Asian pitcher plant
Asian pitcher plants can be found worldwide, in tropical climates. Their pitchers are hanging pitchers, which can grow to unimaginable sizes in the wild. Rumour has it that monkeys drink from them, which is why they are often called Monkeycups. The biggest ones can hold up to 2 liters of water and do occasionally drown mammals. We grow easier varieties, that require less humidity.
How they feed:
These pitcher plants attract insects with their colour, and nectar produced around the mouth of the pitcher. The insects drown in the pitcher, where the plant creates a bacterial soup.
How to care for your plant:
- A position on a windowsill, heated greenhouse or conservatory, where they get a lot of light, but no direct sunshine. In winter a south facing windowsill is fine.
- Rainwater (or distilled, de-ionised or reverse osmosis water). These need a high humidity, so need to be sprayed dayly, and need to be watered from the top.
- Feeding: benefits from feeding the plant the occasional slug or other insect.
- Repotting: when the roots clearly show out of the bottom of the pot.
Brocchinia reducta – carnivorous bromeliad
Brocchinia reducta can be found in South America, specifically in the Highlands in Venezuela and Guyana. They have tightly pressed together leaf rosette, which forms a water reservoir. Unlike it’s relation the Bromeliad, which may catch insects by accident, the Brocchinia actively produces the scent of honey to attract insects.
How they feed:
These plants attract insects with their colour, and honey scent produced by glands in the leaf base. The insects drown in the pitcher, where the plant creates a bacterial soup.
How to care for your plant:
- A position on a windowsill, heated greenhouse or conservatory, where they get a lot of light.
- Rainwater (or distilled, de-ionised or reverse osmosis water). These need a high humidity, so need to be sprayed regularly, and need to be watered from the top.
- Feeding: not necessary.
- Repotting: when the roots clearly show out of the bottom of the pot.
For more information on all the plants, see our FAQ section for additional information, contact us or look your plant up on the internet