Does it need to be fed?

No, it captures its own nutrients from the soil.

Can I grow it in a regular pot?

It requires a specialized bog setup or a sealed terrarium to maintain high humidity.

Plant guide

Corkscrew plant.

Genlisea aurea

Pronounced jen-LIZ-ee-uh OR-ee-uh

The corkscrew plant is a fascinating carnivorous species that traps tiny organisms using specialized underground leaves. It thrives in boggy conditions and produces delicate yellow flowers on tall stalks. You will find it is a rewarding challenge for those who enjoy growing unique bog plants.

At a glance

Care level: Difficult
Plant type: Carnivorous perennial
Light: Bright indirect light
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 1 to 3 days
Mature size: 12 inches
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late spring to summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently saturated with distilled or rainwater to mimic its natural wetland habitat. Watch for browning leaf tips which often signal mineral buildup or drying out. Ensure high humidity levels to keep the plant happy.

Watering: Always keep the soil waterlogged by sitting the pot in a tray of distilled water.
Feeding: Do not fertilize this plant as it captures its own nutrients.
Pruning: Trim off dead flower stalks or withered leaves to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot only when the media begins to break down or the plant outgrows its container.
Soil: Peat and perlite mix
Soil pH: Acidic
Temperature: 15 to 30°C
Humidity: 70 to 95%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Crowded growth in the container
Substrate breaking down
Reduced vigor

Safety

People: There is no known toxicity to humans, but it is not intended for consumption.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as the soil media can be messy and the plant is delicate.
Edibility: This plant is not edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Rosette of small green leaves
Underground hollow corkscrew shaped traps
Tall slender flower stalks
Small bright yellow blooms

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.05 to 0.15m
Leaves: bright green, evergreen
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Fungal growth · Excessive moisture without air circulation can lead to mold on the soil surface.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Keep the plant in a consistently warm, humid environment throughout the winter months. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely.
In containers: It is best grown in a small, sealed glass container or a pot sitting in a tray of distilled water.

Seed

Sow seeds on the surface of moist, peat based media.
Maintain high humidity with a clear cover.
Provide bright, indirect light until germination.

Division

Gently separate the plant clumps during the growing season.
Ensure each division has a portion of the root system.
Replant immediately into fresh, damp substrate.

Group carnivorous plants together in a dedicated bog garden or terrarium to simplify their specific moisture and light needs.

Grows well with

Sundew · They share similar requirements for high humidity and boggy soil conditions.
Butterwort · These plants thrive in the same specialized carnivorous plant environment.

Similar species

Corkscrew plant · It shares the same unique subterranean trapping mechanism.

Science

Family: Lentibulariaceae
Genus: Genlisea
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Brazil (South America)
Conservation: It is not currently listed as endangered, but wild collection is discouraged to protect local populations.

It survives in saturated, acidic, and nutrient deficient soils by supplementing its diet with microscopic soil organisms.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: botanical curiosity, terrarium specimen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

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

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need to be fed?: No, it captures its own nutrients from the soil.
Can I grow it in a regular pot?: It requires a specialized bog setup or a sealed terrarium to maintain high humidity.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Genlisea honors the French writer and educator Stephanie Felicite du Crest de Saint Aubin, Comtesse de Genlis. The specific epithet aurea refers to the golden yellow color of its flowers.

Good to know

It is commonly known as a corkscrew plant because of its unique trap structure.
The traps are entirely subterranean and lack chlorophyll.
It thrives in nutrient poor, waterlogged soils.
The flowers are held on tall, slender stalks above the foliage.

Keep your corkscrew plant 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.