Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) (RED 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 RED varieties.

Dionaea muscipula is without doubt the most iconic of all carnivorous plants – a botanical sensation that fascinates children, collectors, and researchers alike. It originates from a small area in North and South Carolina in the USA, where it grows in nutrient-poor, moist 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 tips ending in traps – two hinged lobes with fine, tooth-like edges. On the inside of the trap are small trigger hairs: when an insect touches them twice in quick succession, the trap closes in a fraction of a second. Inside the trap, digestive enzymes are secreted, which dissolve the prey and provide the plant with the nutrients the soil lacks.

Cultivation and requirements:

Dionaea muscipula requires moist, nutrient-poor soil and plenty of light. It thrives best in pure sphagnum or a mix of sphagnum and perlite, or our specialized soil for carnivorous plants – never use standard potting soil, as the 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 moist but not waterlogged. In summer, it can benefit from being outdoors, where it can catch its own insects. In Denmark, it must hibernate in a cool place, around 5–10 °C, where it goes dormant and partially dies back – a natural part of its life cycle.

Cultivation from seeds:

The seeds should be sown superficially on moist, sterile sphagnum 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 soon develop the characteristic traps, which gradually grow larger with each growing season.

Utility:

Although Dionaea muscipula has no traditional utility, 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 combines science, aesthetics, and nature's ingenious adaptability in one single pot.

Countless shapes and colors:

Since Dionaea muscipula truly became popular in cultivation, a wealth of exciting cultivars and varieties have 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 miniature forms and clones with spiral-shaped traps or unique color patterns.

New varieties are constantly appearing 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 the care of Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

REMEMBER the right soil: Carnivorous plant soil