Project Description
Drosera regia – the King Sundew
Unique biology of Drosera regia
Trap characteristics
Other notable characteristics
They grow well in large pots of 20% perlite to 80% part long-fibered sphagnum moss using the water tray method. Keep them outdoors in cool, frostless climates, or indoors in warm and cool greenhouses. Coastal California windowsills are a great spot. Do note that the plants will reduce in size, or occasionally die back during winter months, but will regrow from the robust root system during warmer weather.
On the topic of roots – Drosera regia don’t take kindly to being disturbed, so once established in large pots, leave them be for multiple years. Any roots that start growing out of the bottom of the pot can be cut off for root cutting propagation (see second photo above for an example of a sprouted root cutting).
*Drosera regia flower & sprout photos courtesy of Djoni Crawford.
Other Drosera varieties, species & hybrids
Drosera filiformis
I've heard Drosera filiformis referred to as nature's anti-aircraft gun for its ability to snipe flying insects out of the air. It's more commonly called the thread-leaved sundew due to its slender, filamentous leaves that reach towards the sky in an effort to tempt low-altitude insects into taking a detour to Sticky Town.
Drosera gigantea
"The giant sundew," indeed! This erect perennial tuberous sundew is one of the largest 'dews around, growing up to 3 feet (0.9 m) in height and branching like a carnivorous tree. Neat.
Drosera scorpioides
A titan among tots, D. scorpioides is commonly known as the shaggy sundew and hails from Australia. Even the darn pygmy plants want to kill you in Australia...
Drosera regia
With 2 foot (0.6 m) leaves the King Sundew, Drosera regia, has earned its grandiose name. It is an archaic species and one of the oldest to survive to modern times.
Drosera spatulata
known as the spoon-leaved sundew because of its' wee spoon-shaped leaves. The Latin name literally translates to "spatula shaped." One may look like teaspoons, another soup spoons... you get the idea.
Drosera capensis ‘Narrow Leaf’
Drosera capensis 'Narrow Leaf' This is your typical "common" capensis. Drosera capensis 'Narrow Leaf' is an incredibly hearty sundew that I have found hard to kill even through repeated neglect. That said, it's a [...]
Drosera binata var. dichotoma ‘Giant’
A monster of a forked sundew, D. binata dichotoma 'Giant' generates forked sundew leaves up to two feet long with four to twelve forks. Since individual leaves fan out from the central growth point, you can end up with 4 foot sundews!
Drosera capensis ‘Wide Leaf’
Cape Sundews hail from South Africa, and are some of the heartiest Drosera around. They're easy to grow, producing bountiful flowers atop long flower stalks and thousands of seeds - often becoming weeds growing amongst your other carnivores.