- Differences between sundew species
- Known native species of sundew
- Drosera species with higher demands
Anyone who has ever engaged in the exciting hobby of cultivating carnivorous plants cannot ignore the sundew (Drosera). There are countless types of sundew, some of which are also suitable for beginners. Particularly noteworthy are Drosera capensis (Cape sundew) and D. aliciae.
The Drosera anglica is very hardy
Differences between sundew species
So far, more than 200 different varieties of Drosera are known, which occur all over the world. All species have in common that they form long tentacles covered with drops of a sticky secretion. Insects stick to this "glue", the tentacles curl up and are digested by the leaves of the plant.
Experts distinguish between the following main types:
- Subtropical sundew
- Tropical sundew
- Queensland sundew
- Dwarf Sundew
- Hardy (native) sundew
Some of the hardy varieties can be grown in bog beds or on the balcony all year round. However, sundew is mostly cultivated as a houseplant.
Known native species of sundew
| Surname | blossom | hardiness | growth habit | particularities | outdoor cultivation | suitable for beginners? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.aliciae | violet | must be overwintered | first rosette, later stem | red leaves when exposed to sunlight | conditionally possible | Yes |
| D.anglica | White | hardy | Rosette, overwintering buds | long-leaved | Yes | Yes |
| D. capensis | pale violet | hardy | rosette | easy to hold | conditionally possible | Yes |
| D.intermedia | White | hardy | rosette | many thin tentacles | Yes | conditional |
| D.rotundifolia | White | hardy | rosette | round leaves | Yes | conditional |
Drosera species with higher demands
If you dare to take care of more demanding sundew species, you need a lot of time, enough space and one or more terrariums.
Most of these varieties, such as the Queensland Drosera and the tropical and subtropical representatives of its kind, need a lot of light, high humidity and special overwintering. The ideal environmental conditions can only be created in the terrarium.
These species are also not suitable for normal housing because the risk of mold growth should not be underestimated.
tips
There are some types of sundew that are only conditionally suitable for keeping indoors. These include: bulbous sundew and species from South Africa that have storage roots. These varieties make demands on location and care that can only be met by experts.