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Dionaea muscipula 'Big Bertha'

Venus Flytrap
Availability:
Out of stock
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Original price £24.99 - Original price £24.99
Original price
£24.99
£24.99 - £24.99
Current price £24.99
Supplied in a 9cm Pot

You’ll receive one established division growing in a 9cm pot with soil perfect for Venus flytraps. Plant size and seasonal appearance will vary; photos show our mother plants.

Seasonal Information

Dionaea are perennial plants. Heading into Winter, the Venus flytraps may have very few traps when purchased. Don't worry, they'll be back in the Spring!

Delivery Information

Delivery from £4.99 (mainland UK). We aim to dispatch orders within 2 working days.

Plant Description

Dionaea muscipula ‘Big Bertha' is a giant Venus flytrap cultivar bred by Mike King of Shropshire Sarracenias. It is one of the largest forms in cultivation, producing an impressive plant that can exceed 30cm across when fully mature. Its sheer size, combined with vigorous growth, has made it a sort after plant among collectors of giant Venus flytraps.

The traps regularly reach around 5cm in length and are carried on broad, sturdy leaves that give the plant a bold appearance. The rosette expands steadily each season, producing numerous large traps that surround the centre of the plant. Mature specimens quickly become commanding plants that occupy far more space than a typical Venus flytrap.

The trap interiors develop rich shades of red under strong sunlight, contrasting with the bright green outer lobes and foliage. Long, evenly spaced cilia frame the traps, giving them the classic Venus flytrap appearance but on a much larger scale. The generous proportions of both the leaves and traps make every part of the plant appear oversized.

Dionaea muscipula ‘Big Bertha' combines its impressive dimensions with a vigorous growth habit, forming large clumps over time if given enough room. As the rhizome matures, the plant produces an increasingly dense display of oversized traps throughout the growing season, making it one of the most imposing cultivars in a collection.

Plant photos above are of our Dionaea muscipula 'Big Bertha' mother plants. Divisions are taken from the mother plants and are planted into 9cm pots to be sold. Division sizes can vary greatly and will always be sent largest first. If you'd like to know the size of a plant before ordering, please feel free to contact us.

Dionaea Muscipula Big Bertha

Basic Dionaea Care

Dionaea muscipula 'Big Bertha' is easy to care for, given the correct conditions. An unheated greenhouse is an ideal location. Here are the 3 golden rules for healthy Venus flytraps.

  1. Provide as much sun as possible.
  2. Keep their pots sat in 1-2cm of rainwater.
  3. Use acidic soil. A 1:1 peat moss & perlite mix is typical.

Take a look at our full, in-depth guide for more information.

FAQs

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.