About
Drosera capensis narrow-leaved is a perennial, rosette-forming carnivorous herb whose leaves are clothed in sticky glands that trap and digest insects. The leaves are elongated and narrow, held semi-erect on a distinct petiole, and will curl around captured prey. It originates from the Cape region of South Africa where it grows in permanently wet, nutrient-poor ground. It flowers May to August and readily blooms in cultivation.
About the genus
Drosera, which is commonly known as the sundews, is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous glands covering their leaf surfaces. The insects are used to supplement the poor mineral nutrition of the soil in which the plants grow.
Wikipedia contributors, "Drosera", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Drosera
In the garden
Drosera capensis narrow-leaved is a rosette sundew from the Cape region of South Africa, adapted to permanently wet, nutrient-poor habitats. Its leaves carry stalked glands that secrete a sticky mucilage to attract and immobilise small arthropods; the lamina then curls around prey to aid digestion. The species has several growth forms and has been grown in Europe since the mid-18th century, where it flowers readily. To mirror its native conditions, keep the substrate constantly moist and low in nutrients: a long-fibre sphagnum or peat-based medium with an inert component such as sharp sand or perlite will reproduce the poor, wet rooting environment it prefers. Plants do well in pots set in a shallow tray of water or in a purpose-built bog feature where water can be sustained. Avoid feeding with fertiliser; the plant obtains key nutrients from captured insects. Because it flowers freely in cultivation, it is often grown in containers, terraria or bog gardens where moisture can be managed. Expect to see the sticky tentacles actively catch small flies and gnats; those curling leaves are the clearest sign the plant is feeding and thriving.
