Does it need special water?

Yes, always use distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water to avoid mineral buildup.

Should I feed it insects?

It is not necessary, as the plant will thrive on light and water alone.

Plant guide

Cape sundew.

Drosera capensis

Pronounced dro-SER-uh kuh-PEN-sis

Also known as Cape Sundew

The Cape sundew is a fascinating carnivorous plant that hails from South Africa. It catches small insects using sticky, dew-covered tentacles on its long leaves. It's a great choice if you're looking to get into carnivorous plants.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Carnivorous perennial
Light: Bright light with some direct sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 1 to 3 days
Mature size: 6 to 10 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Spring to summer

Care

Always keep the soil consistently moist by sitting the pot in a shallow tray of distilled water. Watch for the tentacles to lose their sparkle, which indicates the plant needs more light. Avoid using tap water as the minerals can damage the roots.

Watering: Keep the soil constantly damp by using the tray method.
Feeding: Do not fertilize, as these plants get their nutrients from insects.
Pruning: Trim away dead or blackened leaves to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant outgrows its container using nutrient-free media.
Soil: Peat moss and perlite mix
Soil pH: Acidic
Temperature: 5 to 30°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

The plant has outgrown its current pot.
The peat moss medium has broken down and looks dark or mushy.

Safety

People: The plant is not considered toxic, but it is not meant for consumption.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children because the sticky mucilage can be messy and irritating if touched or rubbed into eyes.
Edibility: This plant is not edible and should not be consumed by humans or pets.

How to identify it

Long, strap-like leaves
Glistening sticky glandular hairs
Leaves curl around trapped prey
Tall spikes of pink flowers

Height: 0.1 to 0.25m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.2m
Leaves: bright green, red, evergreen
Flowers: pink, white, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: black, Late summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Fungus GnatsCommon
DehydrationUncommon
Root RotUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your cape sundew from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed, leaf cuttings, root cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Move to a bright, frost free location during winter. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged if growth slows down.
In containers: It grows very well in pots, especially when placed in a shallow tray of water.

Seed Sowing

1. Sprinkle seeds on top of damp peat moss.
2. Keep in bright light.
3. Maintain high humidity until germination.

Leaf Cuttings

1. Cut a healthy leaf at the base.
2. Place it on damp sphagnum moss.
3. Cover with a clear lid to keep humidity high.

Group carnivorous plants together in a bog garden or tray system to maintain consistent moisture levels.

Grows well with

Venus Flytrap · They share similar requirements for high light and pure water.
Purple Pitcher Plant · These plants thrive in the same boggy, nutrient poor conditions.

Similar species

Forked Sundew · It is another popular, easy to grow sundew with a distinct leaf shape.

Science

Family: Droseraceae
Genus: Drosera
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Cape region of South Africa.
Conservation: It is widely cultivated and not currently threatened in the wild.

It grows in nutrient poor, boggy soils where it captures insects to supplement its nitrogen intake.

Value to wildlife: natural pest control
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental, pest control

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 3/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 1/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need special water?: Yes, always use distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water to avoid mineral buildup.
Should I feed it insects?: It is not necessary, as the plant will thrive on light and water alone.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Drosera comes from the Greek word for dew, referring to the glistening droplets on its leaves. The specific epithet capensis refers to its origin in the Cape of Good Hope.

Good to know

It is one of the easiest carnivorous plants to grow for beginners.
The leaves will curl around prey within minutes of contact.
It produces a high volume of tiny black seeds that germinate easily.
It is native to the Cape region of South Africa.
The flowers are held high on tall stalks to avoid trapping their own pollinators.

Also in

Deer-resistant plants

Keep your cape sundew growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

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.