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Venus Flytrap Wikimedia Commons
Droseraceae

Venus Flytrap

Dionaea muscipula

Allure, danger, hidden hunger.

Family
Droseraceae
Genus
Dionaea
Native to
Coastal North and South Carolina, USA
Bloom season
Late Spring
Type
Carnivorous bog perennial
Height
15–30 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Wet, acidic, nutrient-poor
Water
Constantly wet; rainwater or distilled only
Hardiness
7–10
Lifespan
20+ years

Did you know

  • The Venus flytrap is one of the only plants on Earth capable of rapid movement — its trap snaps shut in under a tenth of a second when triggered.
  • It only grows wild in a 90-mile (145 km) radius around Wilmington, North Carolina, making it one of the most geographically restricted plants in the world.
  • Each trap has tiny trigger hairs and won't snap shut unless two hairs are touched within 20 seconds — an evolved trick to avoid wasting energy on raindrops or debris.
  • The flowers grow on tall stems specifically to keep pollinating bees away from the deadly traps below.
  • Charles Darwin called the Venus flytrap 'one of the most wonderful plants in the world' and devoted an entire book to studying it.

Color meanings

White

Innocent appearance, secret power

Uses

  • Carnivorous plant collections
  • Bog terrariums
  • Curiosity gardens
  • Conservation