Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Droseraceae

Genus:

Dionaea

Species:

Dionaea muscipula

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

30 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

may,jun

Bloom Colors:

white

Native Range

United States

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Native to fire-maintained longleaf pine savannas. Fire removes competing vegetation and maintains open habitat. Plants resprout from rhizomes after fire.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

4.5 - 5.5 (strongly acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Native to boggy areas with high humidity

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days

Germination Time:

14–42 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination. Sow on surface of moist sphagnum or peat; best germination occurs at 70-85°F after cold stratification.

Propagation data sourced from Claude AI