Drosera capensis - White Form
Ease to Grow: Very Easy
Dormancy: No
Native Range: Wet Bogs of the Cape region of South Africa
Zones: 7-9 (6-10)
The White Flower Form of Cape Sundew, Drosera capensis alba, is similar to the Typical Form, except in color, which is an all-over limey green. The flowers are white, rather than the typical pink. It is slightly smaller than the Typical Form. It is one of the easiest of all carnivorous plants to grow. It is medium-size with long strap-like leaves. It generally has a nice overall lime green appearance, sometimes with an orangey-pink cast, and glistens brightly in the sunlight. Insects are lured to the plant and get mired in the sticky dew of the tentacles. The leaves slowly roll over on to the prey in about 30 minutes, creating an effective digestive pouch around the victim. Digestion takes a few days and the leaf uncurls to leave the prey remains behind. It is a tropical plant growing year round, as long as the conditions are warm and bright. In cooler temperatures it stops growing, but holds its traps. It tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, but prefers open, sunny, boggy conditions in peaty soils. The flowers are white on tall, multi-flowered scapes. One or two flowers open each day for several weeks. It can flower at different times of the year, but more profusely in the summer months. It readily produces seeds that can be sown immediately or stored in cool, dry conditions for a year or more. D. capensis comes in many forms: red, white, narrow leaf, broad leaf, wide leaf, and giant. All are unofficial cultivars. It can become a wonderful "weed" in your carnivorous plant collection, and is an excellent terrarium plant. This selection comes from seed and may show slight natural variations. For maximum effect use multiple plants in a 6" pot.
Plants are shipped bare-root, wrapped in damp sphagnum moss. Photographs are representative of species, and not the specific plant shipped.
Height: 2" - 5"
Plant Type: Perennial, Tropical
Soil: Lower Bog Mix or All Purpose Mix
Light: Bright indoors, full sun to partial sun outdoors
Use: Grows well in the protected bog garden, greenhouse and indoors. It is an excellent terrarium plant.
