Tom's Carnivores

If you've just returned from the garden centre with your first flytrap, or are looking for an easy-to-grow carnivorous plant as a unusual gift, this is for you!

New to carnivorous plants? Start here!

Tom Bennet
By Tom Bennet
Published 31 July 2022, updated
I've been growing a wide variety of carnivorous plants for over 2 decades. I got my first Venus flytrap at age 10 and now have an entire greenhouse full of carnivores.

Whether you’ve just returned from the garden centre with your first Venus flytrap, or are simply looking for an easy-to-grow carnivorous plant as a unusual gift, you’re in the right place.

On this page I’ve included answers to common questions, descriptions of the main ’types’ of carnivorous plants, simple growing instructions for popular species, tips for water & dormancy, links to essential resources, and my top recommendations for specialist nurseries. Read on!

Contents

  1. What kinds of carnivorous plant are there?
  2. Which carnivorous plants are good for beginners?
  3. How do I care for my Venus flytrap, Cape Sundew, or Trumpet Pitcher Plant?
  4. How do I care for my Nepenthes or ‘monkey jar’?
  5. Where can I find detailed care instructions?
  6. Where can I buy carnivorous plants?
  7. Should I remove the plastic dome my plant came in?
  8. Where can I obtain carnivorous plant seeds?
  9. Where can I get purified water?

1. What kinds of carnivorous plant are there?

The Venus Flytrap: Without a doubt the most famous carnivorous plant, the Venus flytrap is - for many growers - a gateway drug! The speed at which a healthy plant will snap shut on an insect is amazing the first time you witness it. There is only one species - Dionaea muscipula - but dozens of weird and wonderful varieties are available.

The Sundews: There are almost 200 species of Sundew (Drosera). They vary enormously in size, shape, and growing requirements, and can be found on every continent on Earth except Antarctica. Most are covered with tentacles which have brightly-coloured, glue-covered tips. These tentacles can move, helping the Sundew to quickly suffocate and digest insects which have become stuck.

The Butterworts: You can find Butterworts (Pinguicula) throughout the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest concentration being found in Mexico and Central America. There are around 100 species in all. Their leaves normally appear green and glossy, growing in a ground-hugging rosette. They are also known as flypaper traps, on account of the sticky leaves they use to catch gnats and fruit flies.

From left to right, a Venus flytrap, a Sundew, and a Butterwort. Courtesy of the ICPS.
From left to right, a Venus flytrap, a Sundew, and a Butterwort. Courtesy of the ICPS.

The Pitcher Plants: Pitcher plants typically feature leaves shaped like tubes or vases. Insects slip on the pitcher rim and fall into the digestive enzymes below. There are actually five different kinds (or ‘genera’) of pitcher plant - their common and scientific names are listed below.

In garden centers, you’re most likely to encounter the first two: Sarracenia and Nepenthes. For care advice, keep reading!

The pitcher plants, clockwise from top left: Sarracenia, Heliamphora, Nepenthes, Cephalotus, Darlingtonia. Courtesy of the ICPS.
The pitcher plants, clockwise from top left: Sarracenia, Heliamphora, Nepenthes, Cephalotus, Darlingtonia. Courtesy of the ICPS.

The Bladderworts: With over 200 species, the Bladderworts (Utricularia) are another hugely diverse genus of canivorous plant. Found almost everywhere on Earth, Bladderworts capture prey using bladder-like organs on their roots, which are submerged underwater. Tiny organisms (such as water fleas) are sucked into the bladders in less than a hundredth of a second, where they are digested. Bladderworts are particularly popular for their flowers, which can be as colourful and as beautiful as those of orchids.

Bladderwort flowers: Utricularia alpina, Utricularia quelchii, Utricularia reniformis. Courtesy of the ICPS.
Bladderwort flowers: Utricularia alpina, Utricularia quelchii, Utricularia reniformis. Courtesy of the ICPS.

This list is far from exhaustive! There are dozens of other carnivorous and semi-carnivorous plant species out there, but you’re less likely to encounter them as a beginner. They include the Waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda), the Rainbow plant (Byblis), the Corkscrew plant (Genlisea), and the Dewy Pine (Drosophyllum).

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2. Which carnivorous plants are good for beginners?

For first-time growers, I recommend the following species:

  1. Drosera capensis, the Cape sundew: one of the prettiest and most entertaining sundews, this species is also one of the most adaptable. A great fly catcher and a perfect plant for new growers. Buy Now.
  2. Dionaea muscipula, the Venus flytrap: The most famous of them all! Not necessarily the easiest on this list, but certainly awe-inspiring and rewarding to grow. Buy Now.
  3. Sarracenia ‘Maroon’, a Trumpet pitcher plant: This cultivar - and indeed most hybrids involving S. purpurea - is one of the most tolerant of all North American pitcher plants. Grown in good light, this plant’s colour is magnificent! Buy Now.
  4. Nepenthes ‘Gaya’, a Tropical pitcher plant, also known as a ‘monkey jar’: This cultivar is technically N. khasiana x (ventricosa x maxima), and in my experience it’s one of the most vigorous Nepenthes you can buy. It has attractive red and yellow speckled pitchers, and is a particularly good candidate for a houseplant. Buy Now.
Carnivorous plants for beginners, from left to right: Drosera capensis, Dionaea muscipula, and Sarracenia purpurea. Courtesy of the ICPS.
Carnivorous plants for beginners, from left to right: Drosera capensis, Dionaea muscipula, and Sarracenia purpurea. Courtesy of the ICPS.

For UK growers, all of these plants - and many more - are available from South West Carnivorous Plants. They offer a huge range of Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews, and growing supplies.

For US readers, all of these beginners plants can be ordered from California Carnivores. They offer a huge range of flytraps, pitcher plants, and sundews available for delivery throughout the United States.

You can also get 10% off your order with the code tomscarnivores.

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3. How do I care for my Venus flytrap, Cape Sundew, or Trumpet Pitcher Plant?

These three beginner’s plants share very similar growing requirements.

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4. How do I care for my Nepenthes or ‘monkey jar’?

Nepenthes - also known as ‘Monkey cups’ or ‘Monkey jars’ - require slightly different conditions than their bog-dwelling cousins. While the North American pitcher plants and flytraps love water and sun - and lots of both! - tropical pitcher plants are native to the rainforests and mountains of Southeast Asia. As such, many prefer conditions similar to orchids.

For more in-depth cultivation advice, check out my Complete Guide to Growing Monkey Cups. If you’d like to dive deeper into the 170+ species or calculate the requirements of a specific plant, I’d suggest bookmarking my Nepenthes Interactive Guide.

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5. Where can I find detailed care instructions?

I’ve written detailed guides for several genera, and these are listed below.

I’d also recommend signing up to my email list - subscribers receive tips on cultivation and blog updates.

Alternatively if you’d like a printed guide, the best single resource for growers of carnivorous plants is Peter D’Amato’s book The Savage Garden. Peter updated the book in 2013, so be sure to buy the second edition (here on Amazon).

My top recommendations for books on carnivorous plants.
My top recommendations for books on carnivorous plants. View on Amazon.

Other recent books which I personally find useful and would recommend include Cultivating Carnivorous Plants by Natch Greyes (link), Carnivorous Plants: Gardening with Extraordinary Botanicals by Nigel Hewitt-Cooper (link), and - for serious growers - the work of Stewart McPherson (link).

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6. Where can I buy carnivorous plants?

Wherever you choose to buy from, you’re always better off using a specialist carnivorous plant nursery rather than a garden centre or hardware store. The plants will be much healthier, and you’ll also get better advice on successful growing.

If you’re in the US, I highly recommend California Carnivores. They have a huge variety of carnivorous plants in-stock for delivery throughout the United States, from windowsill plants like the Venus Flytraps to exclusive releases of rare collectors’ items.

You can also get 10% off your order by using the code tomscarnivores at checkout.

If you’re in the UK, then I can highly recommend South West Carnivorous Plants. Owned by Marit Bakker and Simon Hamming, this nursery - popularly known as the Little Shop of Horrors - was started over 35 years ago by Jenny and Alistair Pearce, making it one of the oldest and most reputable nurseries in the UK.

If they don’t sell what you’re looking for - or if it’s out-of-stock and you need it quickly - I can highly recommend the following alternative nurseries in the UK. All have online shops and offer high quality carnivorous plants:

  1. Scotland Carnivorous Plants: If you’re looking for specialist Nepenthes beyond what I offer, I can highly recommend Oliver Murray, my go-to supplier for Nepenthes in the UK. He sells a wide variety of plants from both global wholesaler Borneo Exotics as well as the Australian specialist nursery Exotica Plants. He offers quick delivery throughout the UK. Get 10% off by using the code TOM10. www.scotlandcarnivorous.com.

  2. Hampshire Carnivorous Plants: Matt Soper offers one of the widest ranges of carnivorous plants in the UK. He sells all major genera, has won dozens of medals for his exhibits at national flower shows, and offers a friendly and efficient mail order service. I’ve done a Q&A with Matt which you can read here. Look out for his fantastic nursery open days too! www.hantsflytrap.com.

  3. Wack’s Wicked Plants: Based in North Yorkshire, Peter Walker (Wack) and his wife Helleentje offer a wide range of carnivorous plants via mail order, and also put on medal-winning displays at many of the major UK flower shows. www.wackswickedplants.co.uk.

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7. Should I remove the plastic dome my plant came in?

Many plants purchased from garden centers will come in clear plastic domes. Although these mini-terrariums may be fine in the short-term, in my experience mould can quickly become a problem. If your plant is a Venus flytrap (Dionaea) or North American pitcher plant (Sarracenia), I would suggest removing the dome and finding a good sunny growing location - see beginners care above.

Alternatively, if your plant is a tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes, also known as a “Monkey Jar”), you might be better off leaving the plant in its dome for the time being. These plants grow well in high humidity, and cultivars for beginners are often sold in ‘Bio-Domes’. More detailed guidance on growing Nepenthes is available in my complete guide to Tropical pitcher plants.

Nepenthes Bio-Domes, created by Borneo Exotics.
Nepenthes Bio-Domes, created by Borneo Exotics.

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8. Where can I get carnivorous plant seeds?

Always buy carnivorous plant seed from reputable specialist nurseries, or from trusted private growers. Buying from anywhere else (especially eBay!), you run the risk of being scammed with fake seeds or - worse - inadvertently contributing to poaching from the wild.

If you’re new to growing from seed, I’d recommend trying the following:

Other good options include society-run seed banks, and exchanges in active carnivorous plant groups on social networks.

Sarracenia seeds of various species against a 1mm ruler, courtesy of the ICPS.
Sarracenia seeds of various species against a 1mm ruler, courtesy of the ICPS.

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9. Where can I get purified water?

Pure water is essential for healthy carnivorous plants. This is probably the biggest pain point for new growers.

Most tap water and bottled water is high in dissolved minerals, and the gradual build up of these minerals in the soil will cause your plants to become sickly. Contrary to popular belief, boiling the water first doesn’t help. You need water which is low in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), such as rainwater or distilled water. TDS is typically measured in parts per million (ppm), and most carnivorous plants require under 100 ppm (and ideally much lower) for healthy growth.

Good TDS readers are inexpensive, and by buying one of the many readers available on Amazon you’ll be able to easily test the TDS of your water. If - like most growers - you live in an area where the tap water is unsuitable, what can you do?

Thanks for reading! Feel free to get in touch via email if you’ve got any questions, comments, or requests.

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Tom Bennet
By Tom Bennet
Site Owner

I've been growing carnivorous plants for over 2 decades, having been fascinated by these plants since I got my first Venus flytrap at age 10. I now have a large greenhouse to house my collection and am an avid breeder of Nepenthes pitcher plants.

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