Overview
Drosera rotundifolia is a small carnivorous perennial forming a flat rosette 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) across, with a flowering stem rising 2-10 inches (5-25 cm) above it. The round leaf blades, about 0.4 inch (1 cm) wide on long stalks, are covered in red, gland-tipped hairs that hold drops of sticky fluid. Small insects stick to the droplets; the hairs and leaf then slowly curl around the prey and digest it, which supplies the nitrogen lacking in the boggy soils where the plant grows. The leaves range from green to deep red depending on light, redder in strong sun. A slender stalk carries a one-sided cluster of small white flowers, each about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across, that open a few at a time in summer and only in bright sun. The plant overwinters as a tight bud called a hibernaculum and dies back to it each fall. It is restricted to constantly wet, acidic, nutrient-poor sites such as sphagnum bogs and fens, and declines if the soil dries or is enriched.
Native Range
Native across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including northern North America, Europe, and northern Asia. Grows in sphagnum bogs, fens, wet heaths, and the edges of acidic pools and seeps, from sea level to subalpine elevations, always in constantly wet, nutrient-poor ground.Suggested Uses
Grown by carnivorous-plant enthusiasts in bog gardens, terrariums, and trays of wet sphagnum in bright light. Its strict need for wet, acidic, mineral-free conditions limits it to specialist setups rather than general borders. It is also studied in wetland and bog restoration.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 10"
Width/Spread1" - 4"
Bloom Information
Flowers in summer, mainly June to August, with the small white flowers opening a few at a time over several weeks. The flowers open only in bright sun and close by afternoon. They are largely self-pollinated, and seed ripens by late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green to 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 constantly wet, acidic, nutrient-poor media such as live sphagnum or a peat-and-sand mix. The soil stays saturated with mineral-free water, since tap water and fertilizer kill the plant. It catches its own insect prey and needs no feeding. In cultivation, pots are stood in trays of rainwater or distilled water in bright light. The plant forms an overwintering bud in fall and resumes growth in spring; the rosette collapses if the medium dries or warms too much.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Spent flower stalks and dead leaves are removed to reduce mold in cultivation. The overwintering bud is left intact, as the plant regrows from it in spring.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons