About
Drosera aliciae, Princess Alice's sundew, is a long-lived, clump-forming carnivorous perennial from South Africa with a dense, mounded rosette of spoon-shaped, red-glandular-haired leaves. In summer, a slender inflorescence to 4 cm tall bears 2�12 deep-pink flowers in ascending order. The sticky leaves trap and digest insect prey. A rewarding carnivorous plant for a permanently moist, bright position.
About the genus
Drosera, the sundews, are carnivorous perennials forming rosettes of leaves covered with sticky, red or green, gland-tipped hairs that trap and digest insects. They range from compact, alpine rosette plants to tall, scrambling species, and are among the most diverse and widely distributed of all carnivorous plant genera.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid
Soil moisturePoorly-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse
HabitMatforming
FoliageEvergreen
HeightUp to 10 cm
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Native toS Africa (Cape)
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass grow in a mix of equal parts fertiliser-free peat substitute and sand, in full light, although may need shading from hot midday sun in summer. The compost should be kept continually moist to wet during the growing season by standing the container in a tray of lime-free water, such as rainwater or Reverse Osmosis water. Keep just moist during the winter and do not stand the plants in water. Do not apply fertiliser at all through the year. Minimum temperatures should be no lower than 10C in the winter. In lower temperatures the plant may die back to the roots, but sometimes regenerates again in the spring. For further information see Carnivorous plant cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed as soon as ripe. Stored seed rapidly loses viability. Leaf cuttings during the growing season and root cuttings taken when dormant are alternative methods of propagation
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free