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Drosera pygmaea
pygmy sundew
Southern and eastern Australia, New Zealand
Overview
Drosera pygmaea is a tiny evergreen carnivorous perennial forming a flat rosette only 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) across. The rounded leaves are held on slender stalks and covered with red, gland-tipped tentacles that secrete sticky droplets to trap small insects. The captured prey is digested to supply nutrients lacking in the wet, infertile soils where it grows. White flowers about 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) across are carried singly on thread-like stems 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) tall in spring. In late summer the plant produces a central cluster of green gemmae, small bud-like propagules splashed out by rain to form new plants. The rosette is short-lived, but colonies persist and spread through gemmae. It needs constant moisture and full light, and declines quickly if the soil dries or becomes shaded.
Native Range
Native to southern and eastern Australia, including Tasmania, and to New Zealand. Grows in permanently moist to seasonally wet sandy or peaty soils in heath, swamp margins, and seepage areas in full sun.Suggested Uses
Grown by carnivorous-plant growers in shallow pots and bog trays kept permanently wet in full sun. It suits terrariums and miniature bog gardens. The tiny size and need for constant moisture make it unsuited to general garden beds or borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 1"
Width/Spread1" - 1"
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
White flowers appear in spring, September through November in its native range. Each flower opens for a single day, with a few produced over 2-3 weeks. Flowering is sparse, and the species reproduces mainly by gemmae in late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green and redGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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 in permanently moist, acidic, low-nutrient sandy or peaty mixes. The soil needs to stay wet at all times; the rosette collapses if it dries out. Standing the pot in 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) of rainwater or distilled water keeps the medium saturated. Tap water and fertilizer damage the roots, so only low-mineral water is used. Gemmae form in late summer and can be scattered onto damp medium to raise new plants.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Old leaves and spent flower stems wither and can be left in place or cleared. Clearing competing moss and weeds keeps the small rosette exposed to full light.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons