Question
Dear sirs,

I live in Walnut Cove, NC near Winston-Salem and my climate zone is seven. My question to you is can the rosetted subtropical sundews be grown in a bog successfully? From what I have read most seem to do fine and can do just as well as the forked sundew family and drosera capensis group outdoors.I think my climate zone is relatively mild compared to others. Anyway, I would like your advice on this. I am encouraged from what I know but I don't want to mislead myself if I am wrong. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Daniel Bunton

Answer
Yes, some varieties of Drosera spatulata can be grown as a temperate plant.  In fact, this species is found from Australia through some of the northern areas of Asia.  We grew one variety outdoors at our nursery, and it seemed to have survived the winter just fine.  In colder climates, such as yours, I suspect they'll do better in an in-ground bog garden rather than containers.  

I'd say give it a try.  Most of these subtropical rosetted sundews are very easy to propagate, so it's always worth experimenting with them.  Sometimes you never know until you try it!

As you've mentioned, many of the binata varieties will grow well outdoors.  We've had both mulftifida, dichotoma and Marston's Dragon outside during the winter at some point.  The broad leaf variety of capensis will do fine in an in-ground bog garden.  One of our customers grew a regia in her bog garden this past winter.  I haven't checked in with her yet, but I recall back in December, after a series of frost, she mentioned that the plant was still alive.  I'll likely try growing a regia outside later this spring.  

Good growing!
Jacob Farin