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Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is arguably the most well-known carnivorous plant and is native to the subtropical wetlands of the south-eastern United States, primarily found in North and South Carolina.

The Venus flytrap has specialized leaves with hinged lobes that snap shut when triggered by the presence of prey. The plant uses these modified leaves to capture and digest insects, spiders, and other small arthropods to supplement its nutrient intake, as it often grows in nutrient-poor soils. The trapping mechanism involves tiny trigger hairs on the leaf's inner surface, and once stimulated, the lobes close rapidly, entrapping the prey.

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Dionaea muscipula - Fake Dracula
Dionaea muscipula - Fake Dracula Save 30% Save %

Dionaea muscipula - Fake Dracula

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This is a venus fly trap that I purchased as 'Dracula' but it turned out not to be the real deal. After some research, it seems that there are quit...

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Dionaea muscipula 'Charly Mandon’s Spotted'

Dionaea muscipula 'Charly Mandon’s Spotted'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Charly Mandon's Spotted' is a Venus flytrap cultivar selected in France in 2010. It is best known for the unusual red spotting t...

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Dionaea muscipula 'Red Bull'
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Dionaea muscipula 'Red Bull'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Red Bull', originally known as B01, is a Venus flytrap cultivar selected by Best Carnivorous Plants (BCP) for its unusual trap c...

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Dionaea muscipula 'Rabbit Teeth'
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Dionaea muscipula 'Rabbit Teeth'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Rabbit Teeth' is a distinctive all-green Venus flytrap cultivar known for its unusual trap margins. The plant grows with a low, ...

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Dionaea Muscipula Great White Shark

Dionaea muscipula 'Great White Shark'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Great White Shark' is a giant Venus flytrap bred in England by Alistair and Jenny Pearce at Southwest Carnivorous Plants. The pl...

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Dionaea Muscipula Darwin
Dionaea Muscipula Darwin

Dionaea muscipula 'Darwin'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Darwin' is a giant Venus flytrap selected in England at Southwest Carnivorous Plants. It comes from a cross between Dionaea musc...

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Dionaea Muscipula Rouge Sombre

Dionaea muscipula 'Rouge Sombre'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Rouge Sombre' is a Venus flytrap cultivar prized for its exceptionally dark colouration. The plant grows with a compact, prostra...

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Dionaea muscipula 'Red Sawtooth'

Dionaea muscipula 'Red Sawtooth'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Red Sawtooth' is a compact Venus flytrap cultivar recognised for its deep red colouration and unusual saw-like teeth. The plant ...

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Dionaea Muscipula Phalanx

Dionaea muscipula 'Phalanx'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Phalanx' is a compact Venus flytrap cultivar selected by Mathias Maier of Green Jaws. The plant stays low and prostrate through ...

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Dionaea muscipula 'Beastie Boy'
Dionaea muscipula 'Beastie Boy'

Dionaea muscipula 'Beastie Boy'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Beastie Boy' is a large-growing Venus flytrap cultivar with broad traps, thick growth, and strong red colouration. It grows low ...

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Dionaea Muscipula Bcp H15

Dionaea muscipula BCP H15

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Dionaea muscipula BCP H15 is a medium-sized Venus flytrap cultivar with distinctive traps.  The traps are gently arched and display a rich red to o...

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Dionaea Muscipula Akai Ryu

Dionaea muscipula 'Akai Ryu'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Akai Ryu' is a well-known clone of Venus flytrap. Its name, 'Akai Ryu', translates from Japanese as 'Red Dragon'. This name refe...

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Dionaea Muscipula - Is Bc09
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Dionaea muscipula - IS BC09

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Once upon a time, there was a man called Ian who lived in Wales and got some Venus flytrap seeds from a man named Brad who lived in California. Ian...

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Dionaea Muscipula - Stefan Lenssen C (Plantev)
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Dionaea muscipula - Stefan Lenssen C (Plantev)

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Dionaea muscipula Stefan Lenssen C (Plantev) is a selected clone known for its pronounced marginal teeth and balanced trap size. This form shows a ...

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Dionaea Muscipula Grün

Dionaea muscipula 'Grün'

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Grün is German for 'green'. Dionaea muscipula 'Grün' is an all-green Venus flytrap creating lots of vibrant traps throughout the summer. It is poss...

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Dionaea Muscipula - Is Bc43 All Green
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Dionaea muscipula - IS BC 43 All Green

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Dionaea muscipula IS BC 43 All Green is a seed-grown clone raised by Ian Salter. It represents a stable all-green form of the species, lacking the ...

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Dionaea Muscipula South West Giant
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Dionaea muscipula 'South West Giant'

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Dionaea muscipula 'South West Giant' is a Venus flytrap cultivar developed by British grower Alistair Pearce during the 1980s. He named the plant a...

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Dionaea Muscipula Brad Giant 2
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Dionaea muscipula 'Brad Giant 2'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Brad Giant 2' is a giant Venus flytrap selected from seed by Mike King of Shropshire Sarracenias. This cultivar was chosen for i...

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Dionaea muscipula 'Wacky Traps'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Wacky Traps' is one of the older and more unusual mutated Venus flytrap cultivars. It was originally circulated under the name '...

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Dionaea Muscipula Uk Sawtooth 1
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Dionaea muscipula 'UK Sawtooth 1'

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Dionaea muscipula 'UK Sawtooth 1' is a British Venus flytrap selection known for its short, sharply serrated teeth. It combines bright green foliag...

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Dionaea Muscipula Triton
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Dionaea muscipula 'Triton'

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The Dionaea muscipula 'Triton' is a carnivorous plant cultivar that stands out for its unique trap structure. It originated from a collaboration be...

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Dionaea Muscipula Triffid Giant
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Dionaea muscipula 'Triffid Giant'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Triffid Giant' is a large-growing Venus flytrap cultivar selected for its overall size and vigorous growth. It produces longer l...

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Dionaea muscipula 'Chinese Dumpling'
Dionaea muscipula 'Chinese Dumpling'
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Dionaea muscipula 'Chinese Dumpling'

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Dionaea muscipula 'Chinese Dumpling' is a Venus flytrap cultivar that originated from a tissue culture lab in China. It remains a very sought-after...

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Dionaea muscipula 'DC XL'
Dionaea muscipula 'DC XL'
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Dionaea muscipula 'DC XL'

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Dionaea 'DC XL' boasts traps that are remarkably large, and comparable in size to those of Dionaea 'B52', which are considered the largest traps am...

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FAQs

Where does the Venus flytrap originate from?

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) originates from a small area of the south-eastern United States, mainly in North and South Carolina. In the wild, it grows in open, sunny wetlands with acidic, nutrient-poor soils that stay moist for much of the year. Its natural range is surprisingly limited compared with how widely the plant is now cultivated around the world. Venus flytraps are adapted to this challenging habitat by trapping insects and other small prey, which helps them obtain nutrients that are scarce in the soil.

What compost/ soil should I use for Venus flytraps?

Use a low-nutrient carnivorous plant mix such as peat and perlite, or peat and silica sand (not builders’ sand). Avoid multi-purpose compost, garden soil, and anything with fertiliser added; these can burn the roots. If you prefer peat-free options, choose a carnivorous-plant-safe mix specifically formulated for these plants (test with one plant before using on your entire collection). Repotting into a fresh mix every year helps keep plants vigorous.

Do Venus flytraps need winter dormancy in the UK?

Yes. Dionaea are temperate carnivorous plants and naturally go dormant in winter. In the UK, dormancy usually happens outdoors without intervention as days shorten and temperatures drop. During dormancy, growth slows or stops, and older traps may turn black and shrivel up; that’s normal. Keep the plant outside in a bright, airy spot, keep the compost damp (not waterlogged), and avoid keeping it warm indoors over winter. Dormancy is important for long-term health and strong growth in spring.

Can Venus flytraps live outside all year in the UK?

In most of the UK, yes, Dionaea are generally well-suited to outdoor growing. They can handle typical UK winter conditions while dormant. An unheated greenhouse will provide your plants with a longer growing season, though. Cultivars that are heavily deformed or delicate often do better in a greenhouse.

Do I need to use rainwater for Venus flytraps?

Rainwater is strongly recommended. Like most carnivorous plants, Dionaea can't tolerate minerals and salts that can build up in compost over time. Use rainwater, distilled water, or reverse-osmosis (RO) water whenever possible. If you’re stuck, some UK tap water is low enough in dissolved minerals to use occasionally, but long-term it can lead to slow growth and a gradual decline. When in doubt, rainwater is safest.

Do Venus flytraps need full sun?

Full sun is ideal. In a bright greenhouse or outdoors in a sunny position, you’ll get better colour, larger traps, and stronger growth. A little light shade is usually fine, but too much shade often causes weaker, greener growth and fewer traps. If you’re growing on a balcony, patio, or in a bog planter, choose the brightest spot you have.

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