Drosera pallida
pale rainbow
Overview
Drosera pallida is a carnivorous, tuberous perennial sundew that produces slender, wiry climbing stems 3-5 feet (1-1.5 m) long, scrambling up through surrounding vegetation. Along the stems, small circular leaves are held on thin stalks and are covered in stalked glands tipped with sticky mucilage that glistens and traps small insects. The trapped prey is digested to supplement the nutrients available in the poor, sandy soils where the plant grows. Clusters of white flowers about 0.4 inch (1 cm) across open near the stem tips, mostly in late winter and spring. The species grows in southwestern Western Australia, where it sprouts from an underground tuber after autumn rains, climbs and flowers through the cooler months, then dies back to the dormant tuber over the hot, dry summer. This seasonal dormancy means the plant is absent above ground for several months each year. Its climbing habit and carnivorous leaves suit specialist sundew collections and container culture more than general garden beds.
Native Range
Drosera pallida is native to southwestern Western Australia, where it grows in seasonally moist sand and sandy heath. It occurs on winter-wet flats and slopes that dry out completely over summer.Suggested Uses
Grown in specialist carnivorous-plant collections and deep pots among other tuberous sundews. The climbing stems can be trained up a thin support or allowed to scramble over neighbouring pots. Summer dormancy and exacting water needs make it unsuited to general garden beds or mixed containers.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 5'
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in late winter and spring, after the plant emerges from its tuber with the autumn and winter rains. Clusters of small white flowers open near the stem tips. The plant then dies back to the tuber as the soil dries in summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green to reddishGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Grow Drosera pallida in a deep pot of low-nutrient sandy or sand-and-peat mix in full sun to bright light. Water with mineral-free water to keep the mix moist through the autumn-to-spring growing season, then withhold water and let it dry as the plant enters summer dormancy. The tuber sits deep in the pot and survives the dry rest period underground. The roots are adapted to very low nutrients and the leaves capture their own prey, so no fertiliser is used. A deep container suits the tuber, which can pull itself well below the surface.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Dead stems can be trimmed away once the plant has died back to its tuber for summer dormancy. Leaving the pot undisturbed protects the dormant tuber below the surface.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons