Drosera binata
fork-leaved sundew
South-eastern Australia and New Zealand
Overview
Drosera binata is a carnivorous perennial growing 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall, forming a clump of upright leaves on slender stalks. Each leaf blade is forked, dividing once or repeatedly into two to many narrow linear segments 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) long, the whole blade covered with stalked glands tipped with sticky red secretion. Insects that land are held by the secretion, and the tentacles and leaf slowly bend around the prey, which is digested to supply nitrogen lacking in the boggy soils. Flowers are white or pink, 0.4-0.8 inch (10-20 mm) across, carried on a branched stem above the foliage in summer. The plant grows from fleshy black roots and, in cooler forms, dies back to these roots over winter, regrowing in spring. Growth is fastest in the warm, moist months. Plants spread slowly by root buds and form clumps over several years. The sticky leaves catch dust and debris as well as insects, and the red colour deepens in strong light.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, and also to New Zealand. Grows in permanently moist to boggy, nutrient-poor sites such as swamp margins, seepage slopes, and peaty soils in heath and open forest.Suggested Uses
Grown in bog gardens, carnivorous-plant collections, and pots standing in rainwater, spaced 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) apart. Suited to permanently moist, acidic sites and terrariums with strong light. Also grown indoors or in a greenhouse under controlled humidity and water quality.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in summer, mainly December to February, with a branched flowering stem carrying several white to pink flowers that open over a few weeks. Each flower opens for a day, often only in sunny conditions. Flowering is heavier in plants grown in strong light with steady moisture.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pinkFoliage Description
green with red tentaclesGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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
Grows in full sun to part shade in permanently moist, nutrient-poor, acidic media such as peat and sand, with the pot standing in a tray of rainwater during the growing season. It does not tolerate drying out, lime, or mineral-rich tap water, which damage the roots. In cooler forms the plant dies back to fleshy roots over winter and needs only damp, cooler conditions until spring regrowth. Fertiliser is not applied; the plant gains nutrients by trapping insects. Aphids and fungal rot occur in stagnant, still air.Pruning
Requires no pruning. Dead leaves and spent flower stems can be trimmed off at the base to reduce fungal rot. In winter-dormant forms the foliage dies back on its own to the fleshy roots.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons