How to Grow Great Sundew
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Great Sundew
Drosera anglica
flowerThe Great Sundew is a carnivorous plant native to cool, boggy regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It features distinctive reddish, glandular leaves arranged in a rosette that trap and digest insects to supplement nutrient uptake from poor soils. This delicate perennial produces small white or pale pink flowers on slender stems during summer.
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Example Great Sundew timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Great Sundew
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Great Sundew blooms
Mid-to-late summerBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Great Sundew dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in cool zones 2-7, preferring northern regions and high-altitude areas
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Get my Great Sundew timeline →Growth Stages
Seed Germination
3-4 weeksTiny seedlings emerge with minimal cotyledons and first true leaves forming small rosettes
Requires 4-6 weeks cold stratification; maintain high humidity; provide bright, indirect light; keep medium wet
Rosette Development
6-12 monthsYoung plant develops characteristic reddish, glandular leaves in a tight basal rosette; leaves become increasingly covered in sticky tentacles
Maintain constant wetness; provide bright light; ensure high humidity; begin feeding (plant will self-feed via insects)
Vegetative Growth
1-2 yearsEstablished rosette expands, producing more leaves; plant may develop small offsets or daughter plants
Continue consistent watering with distilled water; avoid fertilizers; monitor for dormancy triggers in fall
Flowering
4-8 weeksSlender flower stalk emerges from center of rosette, bearing small white or pale pink flowers in a raceme
Maintain all previous care conditions; allow flowering to proceed; pollination may occur via insects or hand-pollination
Seed Production & Dormancy
4-6 weeks to seed maturity; dormancy lasts 2-4 monthsAfter flowering, seeds develop in small seed pods; plant enters winter dormancy with hardened, reddened foliage
Allow pods to mature; keep medium wet throughout dormancy; reduce light slightly if possible; maintain cool temperatures (32-50°F)
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Improve air circulation; reduce humidity slightly; allow plant to dry marginally between waterings if possible; use yellow sticky traps
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and
(Pythium, Rhizoctonia)
Ensure excellent drainage and air flow; avoid stagnant water; remove dead leaves promptly; use sterile potting medium
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Use well-draining peat/sphagnum mix; ensure pots have drainage holes; avoid mineral-laden standing water
Uses
Insect Pest Control
WildlifeAs a carnivorous plant, Great Sundew naturally traps and digests small flying insects including gnats, flies, and mosquitoes, providing biological pest management in gardens and greenhouses. [source]
Botanical Display & Terraria
CraftWith its striking reddish glandular leaves and delicate flowers, Great Sundew is prized by collectors for bog terrariums, dish gardens, and specialized carnivorous plant displays. [source]
Traditional Folk Medicine
MedicinalHistorically, sundews have been used in traditional European herbalism for respiratory complaints and coughs, though modern scientific evidence is limited. [source]
Indoor Humidity Regulation
HouseholdGrowing Great Sundew in a specialized bog garden or terrarium naturally maintains high humidity levels, which can benefit other plants and indoor air quality. [source]
Culinary Garnish (Specialized Use)
CulinaryIn some contemporary haute cuisine contexts, carnivorous plants like sundew are used as unusual edible decorative elements, though their primary value is ornamental. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Do not harvest leaves; this is a display/observation plant. Collect mature seed pods in late summer once they turn brown and papery; allow seeds to dry completely before storage in cool, dry conditions.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Great Sundew's glandular tentacles secrete a sticky mucilage that sparkles in sunlight like dewdrops, inspiring its common name; the fluid is actually a powerful digestive enzyme that breaks down insect proteins.
- 🌱 Unlike most carnivorous plants, Great Sundew can survive in nutrient-poor boggy soils by supplementing its nitrogen intake through insect digestion, allowing it to thrive where few other plants can.
- 🌱 The plant is federally listed or protected as rare or endangered in several regions of North America and Europe due to habitat loss from bog drainage and peat extraction.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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