Drosera auriculata
tall sundew
Southeastern Australia and New Zealand
Overview
Drosera auriculata is a carnivorous tuberous sundew native to southeastern Australia and New Zealand, producing a slender erect or scrambling stem 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall in winter and spring. Along the stem, shield-shaped leaves about 0.2 inch (4-6 mm) wide are held on thin stalks and covered in red glandular tentacles, each tipped with a bead of sticky mucilage. Small insects that land on the leaves are caught by the glue, and the leaf slowly folds to digest them, supplementing the nutrients the plant draws from poor soils. White to pink five-petalled flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across open at the stem tips on sunny days in spring. After flowering the plant dies back to an underground tuber and stays dormant through the dry summer. It grows in seasonally moist heath, woodland, and granite outcrops, and depends on damp soil during its winter growth period.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, and also found in New Zealand, growing in seasonally moist heath, woodland, and rocky sites.Suggested Uses
Grown mainly in specialist carnivorous-plant collections and pots of sand and peat rather than open garden beds. The sticky leaves and spring flowers are a feature for hobby growers. Its summer dormancy and need for specific soil and moisture limit broader garden use.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread2" - 4"
Bloom Information
White to pink flowers open in spring, mainly August to November, at the top of the stem and unfurl on sunny days. Each flower lasts a day or so, with the cluster flowering over a few weeks. The plant withers soon after seeding.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pinkFoliage Description
green to redGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Drosera auriculata grows in acidic, low-nutrient sandy or peaty soils that stay moist through the cool growing season and dry out in summer. It needs bright light to develop red pigment and catch prey, and is not fertilized, as it gathers nutrients from trapped insects. The tuber rests deep in the soil through the hot months and resprouts after autumn rain. In cultivation it suits specialist carnivorous-plant collections grown in pots of sand and peat. Excess water during summer dormancy rots the tuber. It is not suited to standard garden beds.Pruning
No pruning is required. The annual stem dies down naturally after flowering and seeding. Spent growth can be left in place as the plant retreats to its tuber.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons