Cape sundew (Drosera capensis), a carnivorous perennial native to South Africa, traps and digests insect prey with a sticky sap. The Cape sundew is low-maintenance and durable when given the right conditions, often self-sowing freely. Varieties include "Red," a large, red-leaved variety and "Albino," a cultivar that will turn pinkish with more light and whitish with less light.
Cape sundew is quite low-growing, producing tapered leaves generally less than 3 inches long. Its leaves are covered in sticky, tentaclelike plant hairs that secrete an insect-attracting sap. Once an insect is stuck on a leaf, the leaf wraps around the insect and releases digestive enzymes that liquify the insect, allowing it to be digested by the plant. The plant's five-petaled, pinkish-lavender flowers are quite delicate and pretty, sitting above the leaves on thin stems.
Where to Plant
Cape sundew grows in sunny spots in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. If temperatures drop to 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant will undergo a period of winter dormancy until temperatures climb back up to 40 F. To keep it green all year, bring it indoors and put it in a sunny windowsill or under grow lights.
As with other carnivorous plants, Cape sundew will not grow in regular soil mix. It requires an infertile media, such as pure sphagnum moss or a mixture of peat moss and sand. If given ample light, the red forms will showcase more red color in peat moss, notes International Carnivorous Plant Society. Cape sundews must be watered regularly with distilled water or rainwater. They will suffer if given tap water, which contains too many minerals.
Cape sundew is easy to propagate and may be grown from seed, division, or stem, leaf or root cuttings. If the plant self-sows, dig up the new plants and move them to a new spot in the garden. Remove the flower stalks if you do not want the plant to self-sow. The seeds germinate best if temperatures are between 70 and 80 F, advises the International Carnivorous Plant Society. Cuttings will grow more quickly than seeds, and will often root if planted in moist sphagnum moss.
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