Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula 'Cup-shaped')
The Dionaea muscipula 'Cup-shaped' Venus fly trap is a unique carnivorous perennial native to bogs, requiring high maintenance and consistent moisture.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’, commonly known as the Venus fly trap, is perhaps the most iconic carnivorous plant globally, prized for its fascinating, snapping traps. This herbaceous perennial produces specialized leaves that snap shut when trigger hairs are stimulated, capturing insects for vital nutrients. While inherently captivating, the Venus fly trap requires strict adherence to specific cultural needs, making its maintenance level high for most gardeners.
This unique cultivar, ‘Cup-shaped’, features traps with rounded, cup-shaped lobes, distinguishing it visually from other forms. Native to boggy, acidic sites in the coastal plains of the southeastern US, successful cultivation of the Venus fly trap hinges on replicating these damp, nutrient-poor conditions. Gardeners looking for an unforgettable specimen plant should prioritize replicating its necessary environment.
Beyond its novelty, the plant displays attractive white flowers in late spring, rising above the rosette of traps. Growing Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’ successfully means understanding its deep need for wet, acidic soil and mandatory winter dormancy. For those willing to commit to its specific care regime, it provides a truly remarkable addition to specialized garden areas.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Droseraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.5-1 ft
- Spread: 0.5-0.75 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Wet
- Maintenance Level: High
How to Grow
Successful cultivation of the Venus fly trap requires meticulous attention to water, soil composition, and dormancy. The best planting location mimics its native habitat: a bog garden prepared in advance, sited in full sun to part shade and protected from harsh winter winds. The required soil must be acidic, humusy, unfertilized, and somewhat mucky, ensuring it remains constantly damp—soils must absolutely never dry out.
Watering is critical; always use rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water, as minerals found in tap water can harm Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’. If planting in containers, place the pot in a tray of water to maintain constant subsurface moisture, using a mixture of peat moss and sand. Plants produce new traps throughout spring and summer but naturally die back as temperatures drop, initiating necessary winter dormancy when sustained temperatures fall below 50 degrees F.
Winter protection is essential, particularly for northern zones (5 and 6). After dormancy triggers, mulch heavily with pine needles or leaves to insulate the rhizomes from freezing temperatures. If container gardening, containers can be buried up to the rim in protected soil and mulched, or brought indoors to a sunny, cool location (40-50 degrees F) until spring growth begins. Propagate the Venus fly trap by division in the spring when new growth appears.
Landscape Uses
The primary recommendation for Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’ is as a feature in dedicated bog gardens, where their constant moisture needs are easily met outdoors. They are exceptional as Water Plants or within Rain Gardens, thriving in low spots where saturation is guaranteed during the growing season. For gardeners lacking bog space, container culture simplifies managing the specific soil and water requirements.
Containers offer flexibility, allowing growers to move their grouping of Venus fly traps to sunny decks or patios during active growth. The specialized soil mixture of sand and peat moss ensures adequate drainage while retaining the required constant dampness. This method also allows for controlled overwintering for zones outside the ideal range of 7-10, such as managing colder conditions in Zones 5 and 6.
While potentially difficult, some specialty greenhouses or terrariums can accommodate the Venus fly trap by carefully controlling humidity and moisture levels year-round. However, because the plant demands significant growing season sun and requires predictable winter dormancy, growth as a standard indoor houseplant is generally discouraged.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Dionaea muscipula, commonly called Venus fly trap, is perhaps the best known of the carnivorous plants that are native to the southeastern United States. It is native to coastal plain areas in southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina (all within a 100 mile radius of Wilmington, N. C.), where it is typically found in sandy, acidic, boggy sites in marshlands, wet grasslands and savannas. From a rhizome, this herbaceous perennial produces a low-growing rosette of bristly, spreading, basal leaves, with each leaf (“trap”) being folded into two hinged lobes with bristly edges. The cultivar name ‘Cup-shaped’ refers to its rounded trap structure.
Potential Problems
Aphids and spider mites can pose a threat, requiring vigilance, as can the appearance of black spot fungal disease. Since wild populations of the Venus fly trap are threatened by habitat loss and poaching, gardeners must ethically source, purchasing only nursery-propagated plants from reputable growers. Proactive monitoring and appropriate care, such as correct water quality management, significantly reduce common pest issues.
Tolerances
- High water needs mean it tolerates continuously wet conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Venus fly trap suitable for?
The Venus fly trap, Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’, is winter hardy in USDA Zones 7-10, though protection may allow survival in Zones 5 and 6.
How large does Venus fly trap grow?
The plant grows to a mature height range between 0.5 to 1 ft tall and spreads approximately 0.5 to 0.75 ft wide.
What sun exposure does Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’ need?
This carnivorous plant thrives best with full sun exposure but can tolerate partial shade during the hottest parts of the day.
When does Venus fly trap bloom?
The Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’ typically blooms in late spring, from May to June, producing delicate white flowers.
Conclusion
The Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’ Venus fly trap offers unparalleled botanical intrigue, making it a high-maintenance but highly rewarding specimen plant for specialized cultivation. Successfully growing this carnivore depends entirely on delivering its precise needs: mineral-free water, acidic soil, and a distinct winter dormancy period. Before introducing this fascinating plant to your garden or container setup, confirm that your local climate aligns with USDA Zones 5-8 requirements or plan for appropriate seasonal protection.
Companion Planting
When designing a specialized bog environment, companion plants must share the exact need for acidic, consistently moist, unfertilized soil. Look for other bog natives that tolerate submerged roots during saturated conditions. Excellent partners include certain species of Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia) or Sundews (Drosera), which share the same low-nutrient requirements as the Venus fly trap.
Avoid common garden perennials, as most species cannot tolerate the perpetually wet, low-nutrient, acidic substrate required by Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’. Introducing fertilizer or high-pH soil via traditional companions will quickly sicken or kill your Venus fly trap. The bog garden functions best as a monoculture grouping of specialized carnivorous flora.
Propagation Tips
While growing Dionaea muscipula ‘Cup-shaped’ from seed is possible, it requires several years to reach maturity, making division the most practical propagation method. Division should occur in the spring as the plant emerges from dormancy, allowing you to separate the rhizomes carefully. Ensure that each divided section has a sufficient portion of the rhizome and at least one viable growing point or trap structure attached for best success.
During the separation process, handle the fragile root structures gently, remembering that the plant is herbaceous and tender underground. Once divided, immediately replant the sections into their prepared, moisture-retentive, acidic growing medium. Division helps rejuvenate older clumps and allows you to create new groupings of these fascinating plants for other containers or bog areas.
