Question
QUESTION: I recently purchased a sundew at a local plant show, grown locally, no cube. I was assured it is a US native, it looks like Drosera Capensis, maybe a little larger, with red areas where the tentacles are. Is there such a native US sundew. Perhaps linearis? I don't want to put it outside if it isn't acclimatised to North America.

ANSWER: Hello Craig,

If there were a picture of the Sundew we might be able to make some identification of it. There are hundreds of species of Sundews, and many look similar. Drosera capensis is quite unique looking however; and is not a U. S. native. The only Sundew I think you could be describing would be Drosera filiformis (which does not really look that much like D. capensis, but with no other description or picture, the identity will really remain a mystery. D. linearis is barely half the size of Drosera capensis, so it is unlikely that species since you describe your plant as being larger than D. capensis. My D. capensis grow over 6 inches across regularly.



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unknown sundew   QUESTION: Here's a photo of sundew.

Answer
Hello Craig,

What you have there looks, by the picture, to be D. capensis the African Cape Sundew. It looks like the narrow leaf variety which grows usually between 5-7 inches across from my experience.

It is a sub-tropical plant that likes cool temperatures between 60-75 degrees but that can adapt to almost any humidity or temperature so long as it has enough water.

Chris