Do I need to feed it bugs?

No, they get energy from sunlight and can survive without insects, though occasional feeding helps growth.

What kind of water should I use?

Always use distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water, as tap water contains minerals that will kill it.

Plant guide

Venus flytrap.

Dionaea muscipula

Pronounced dy-oh-NEE-uh mus-KIP-yoo-luh

Also known as Venus Flytrap, Venus fly trap, Venus fly-trap, Venus' flytrap, Venus's flytrap

Dionaea muscipula — Photo by Sequoia Janirella Wrens (CC0) via gbif

The Venus flytrap is a fascinating carnivorous plant that captures insects to supplement its nutrient intake. It thrives in boggy, acidic environments where other plants struggle to find food. You will love watching its unique traps snap shut when triggered.

At a glance

Care level: Difficult
Plant type: Carnivorous perennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 1 to 3 days
Mature size: 5 to 6 inches
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 7 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Always keep the soil consistently moist using distilled or rainwater, as minerals in tap water can harm the roots. Ensure the plant receives plenty of direct sunlight to keep its traps healthy and vibrant. Watch for browning traps, which is a normal part of the aging process.

Watering: Keep the pot sitting in a shallow tray of distilled water at all times.
Feeding: Do not fertilize this plant as it gets its nutrients from insects.
Pruning: Snip off dead or blackened traps to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot in early spring using a fresh, nutrient poor peat mixture.
Soil: Peat moss and perlite mix
Soil pH: 3.5 to 5.0
Temperature: 0 to 35°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

The plant has outgrown its current pot.
The soil has become compacted or broken down.
The rhizome is crowded by new offsets.

Safety

People: The plant is non-toxic to humans.
Pets: This plant is non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The traps can be delicate and may break if handled frequently by small children.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for human consumption and provides no nutritional value.

How to identify it

Hinged leaves with marginal spines
Sensitive trigger hairs inside traps
Rosette growth pattern near ground
Small white flowers on stalks

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.2m
Leaves: green, red, evergreen
Flowers: white, 2 to 3cm

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
AphidsUncommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
Gray MoldUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your venus flytrap from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Move the plant to a cool, bright area like an unheated garage or porch during winter. Keep the soil just barely damp while it rests in its dormant state.
In containers: They grow best in plastic pots with drainage, as ceramic or terracotta can leach minerals into the soil.

Division

1. Gently remove the plant from its pot.
2. Carefully separate the rhizome into smaller sections.
3. Ensure each section has roots attached.
4. Repot into fresh, damp sphagnum moss.

Group carnivorous plants together in a bog garden to maintain consistent moisture and light levels.

Grows well with

Sundew · They share similar requirements for high humidity and acidic, nutrient-poor soil.
Pitcher plant · These bog plants thrive in the same wet, sunny conditions as the flytrap.

Similar species

Cape sundew · It is another popular carnivorous plant that is easier for beginners to maintain.

Science

Family: Droseraceae
Genus: Dionaea
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Coastal plains of North and South Carolina, USA.
Conservation: It is listed as vulnerable in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal poaching.

It thrives in nutrient-poor, acidic bogs where it captures insects to supplement its nitrogen intake.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: ornamental, educational

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 2/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 8/9
Nutrients: 1/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to feed it bugs?: No, they get energy from sunlight and can survive without insects, though occasional feeding helps growth.
What kind of water should I use?: Always use distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water, as tap water contains minerals that will kill it.

Where the name comes from

The scientific name Dionaea refers to the Greek goddess Dione, while muscipula means mousetrap in Latin.

Good to know

It is native to a very small area in North and South Carolina.
The traps are modified leaves, not flowers.
They require nutrient-poor soil to thrive.
The plant enters a dormant period in winter where it stops growing.

Also in

Deer-resistant plants

Keep your venus flytrap growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.