Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) (GREEN mix) | seeds, 10 pcs.

• Latin name: Dionaea muscipula
• Danish names: Venus fluefanger, fluefanger
• English names: Venus flytrap, flytrap

NOTE: This is a mix of seeds from various GREEN varieties.

Dionaea muscipula is undoubtedly the most iconic of all carnivorous plants – a botanical sensation that fascinates children, collectors, and scientists alike. It originates from a small area in North and South Carolina in the USA, where it grows in nutrient-poor, damp bogs. To survive in these lean environments, it has developed a spectacular strategy: trapping and digesting insects.

The plant forms a low rosette of green leaves, with the outer ends terminating in traps – two hinged lobes with fine, tooth-like edges. On the inside of the trap are small sensory hairs: when an insect touches them twice in quick succession, the trap closes in a fraction of a second. Digestive enzymes are secreted inside the trap, dissolving the prey and providing the plant with the nutrients missing from the soil.

Cultivation and requirements:

Dionaea muscipula requires damp, nutrient-poor soil and plenty of light. It thrives best in pure sphagnum moss or a mixture of sphagnum moss and perlite, or our special soil for carnivorous plants – never regular potting soil, as nutrients can damage the roots. Use only rainwater, distilled water, or demineralized water, as it does not tolerate lime.

The plant should be kept in a bright spot, preferably in full sun, and the soil must be kept constantly damp, but not waterlogged. During the summer, it can benefit from being placed outdoors, where it can catch insects itself. In Denmark, it must hibernate in a cool place, around 5–10 °C, where it enters dormancy and partially dies back – a natural part of its life cycle.

Cultivation from seed:

The seeds are sown superficially on damp, sterile sphagnum moss and must not be covered with soil. They require high humidity and light to germinate and should be kept at 22–28 °C. Germination typically takes 4–8 weeks. The small plants are delicate at first but will soon develop the characteristic traps, which gradually grow larger with each growing season.

Utility:

Although Dionaea muscipula has no traditional practical use, it is one of the most popular carnivorous plants in the world – both as a collector's plant and as an educational object. It is often used to spark interest in botany and evolution, and its rapid movement mechanism is among the most fascinating in the plant kingdom.

Dionaea muscipula is a living classic – a plant that unites science, aesthetics, and nature's ingenious adaptability in one and the same pot.

Countless shapes and colors:

Since Dionaea muscipula became truly popular in cultivation, a wealth of exciting cultivars and varieties has emerged. Some have deep red traps and leaves (‘Akai Ryu’), others have unusually large traps (‘B52’) or toothless trap edges (‘Fused Tooth’, ‘Cup Trap’). There are even mini-forms and clones with spiral-shaped traps or unique color patterns.

New varieties arise continuously through selection and tissue culture, making Dionaea muscipula an infinitely varied collector's plant, where each clone can have its own distinct expression.

- Read our article on caring for the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

REMEMBER the right soil: Carnivorous plant soil