Dionaea muscipula
Venus fly trap, Venus mouse trap
Also known as Dionaea Flytrap
- Height × spread
- 0.35m × 0.15m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
The 'trapping' leaves are oval with prong like toothy edges. Nectar is secreted from the base of the teeth which attracts its prey. These thrive if grown well but care must be taken to establish the plant in the right conditions. Beware of inferior specimens. Use compost made of moss peat and horticultural sand. Do not use sphagnum moss or perlite. Stand on tray with rain water. Likes a sunny spot and as much humidity as possible. Remove flowers before they develop unless you have a very healthy specimen. It is deciduous and in autumn you are left with little structures, somewhat like bulbs that sit below the soil surface. Remove the tray and keep barely moist during winter. These should be repotted annually. Out of doors likes a sunny spot with moist acidic soil. For hygiene remove dead traps so they don't rot.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.35m
- Spread
- 0.15m
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous)
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 5C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring · Planting
Repot yearly
Repot yearly if grown in a pot. Move it to a slightly larger pot with drainage holes. Some of the old compost can be shaken away, but don't disturb the roots too much.
Be careful to ensure the roots are spread out in the new pot, and that the plant is sitting on compost and not an air pocket. Firm the soil gently, and make sure that the plant sits at the same level above the soil as it did previously.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Indoors
Water with rain water from below
The plant needs rain or soft water (boiled and cooled water) - the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful. Water from below; the container in which the plant is growing should stand in a saucer of rain water. This will ensure that the plants roots are always moist.
Indoor temperature · Planting
5C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 5 Centigrade.
Compost · Planting
Compost for carnivorous plants
Use carnivorous compost when planting in pots, or to improve soils when planting in the ground.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).