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Dionaea Muscipula King Henry

Dionaea muscipula 'King Henry'

Venus Flytrap
Availability:
Out of stock
Sold out
£19.99 - £19.99
£19.99
£19.99 - £19.99
£19.99
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 ‘King Henry’ is a giant Venus flytrap bred by Don Elkins of Mesa Exotics. It was selected for its strong growth rate and large trap size. Among giant forms, this cultivar is known for building size quickly and producing a tall, upright plant.

The plant forms long, erect leaves that lift the traps above the centre of the rosette. Mature specimens can reach around 15 cm in height and spread to a similar width once established. This upright structure gives the plant a very open look compared with flatter-growing flytraps.

The traps of Dionaea muscipula ‘King Henry’ are large and bright green. The outer surface often stays yellow-green, while the interior of the trap develops red to orange tones when grown in strong light. The colour contrast is usually clear, with the bright green petioles supporting the coloured trap interior.

The trap teeth are long and widely spaced. They remain slender and evenly arranged along the trap margin, which emphasises the large size of the trap itself. This spacing also makes the traps appear more open when fully spread.

Growth is vigorous. Plants divide steadily and form large clumps over time. Because of this speed and size, Dionaea muscipula ‘King Henry’ often fills a pot faster than many standard Venus flytrap cultivars.

This cultivar remains one of the largest selections produced by Don Elkins. It combines fast growth, tall leaves, and oversized traps into a stable giant form.

Plant photos above are of our Dionaea muscipula 'King Henry' 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 King Henry

Basic Dionaea Care

Dionaea muscipula 'King Henry' 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.

Full Care Guide

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.

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