Drosera capensis 'Alba'

Description

The Cape sundew, or Drosera capensis, is a carnivorous perennial plant that forms small rosettes and is native to South Africa's Cape region. Its compact size and ease of cultivation have made it one of the most commonly grown sundews. The plant's strap-like leaves, measuring up to 3.5 cm long (excluding the petiole), are covered in brightly coloured tentacles that secrete a sticky mucilage, which ensnares insects. The leaves then roll towards the centre, aiding digestion by bringing more digestive glands in contact with the prey. Within an hour, the prey is completely surrounded by the plant leaf, and the tentacles continue to move, trapping it further.

Plant Size On Offer

Cape sundews are planted into 9cm pots. The size of the plants may vary and will always be sent largest first. If you'd like to know the size of a plant before ordering, please feel free to get in touch.

Basic Care

Cape sundews are incredibly easy to care for, given the right conditions. They can be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill or in a well-lit terrarium. You can even grow them in an unheated greenhouse, they will die back heavily in the winter but will reappear in the spring. Here are the 3 golden rules for healthy Drosera capensis.

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.