Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is the sole species in its genus and native to a narrow band of coastal plain bogs in North and South Carolina. It captures insects and spiders with spring-loaded leaf traps that require two contacts with internal trigger hairs within roughly 20 seconds to close—a mechanism that filters out false triggers such as raindrops and prevents wasted energy.
Cultivation must mimic bog habitat: permanent moisture at the roots, full sun for at least 6 hours, and soil that is both acidic and nutrient-poor. Use pure sphagnum moss or a 1:1 mix of peat and silica sand. Never add fertilizer; root damage follows quickly. Use only distilled water, rainwater, or reverse-osmosis water—dissolved minerals in tap water accumulate in the root zone and are lethal over time. The plant is cold-hardy in ground in zones 7–10 but requires 3–4 months of winter dormancy at 35–50°F; skipping dormancy shortens its lifespan considerably. In colder climates, overwinter in an unheated garage or refrigerator.
Dionaea extracts contain plumbagin, a naphthoquinone that has been studied in laboratory settings for anticancer and antimicrobial activity. A commercial supplement called Carnivora derived from the plant has been marketed as an immune modulator, though controlled clinical evidence remains limited.
Botrytis (grey mould)
Grey fuzzy mould on petals and stems, worst in cool wet conditions.
Remove affected parts immediately. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply copper fungicide if severe.
Crown Rot
Lower leaves yellow and wilt; the base of the rosette turns brown and soft, sometimes with white fungal threads at the soil line. Plants collapse in wet conditions.
Remove and destroy affected plants. Improve drainage and avoid overhead watering. Do not mulch directly against the crown. Space plants for airflow and avoid replanting in the same wet spot.
Root rot
Plants wilt, yellow, and stunt even in moist soil; lower stems and roots turn brown, soft, and mushy and the plant may collapse. Most common in heavy, wet, or poorly drained ground.
Improve drainage and stop overwatering, and never plant too deep. Lift and destroy badly affected plants along with the soil around the roots. Grow in raised or free-draining beds to prevent it returning.