Status in Florida: Not Native (it's native to a small area of the Carolinas)
Native Habitat: Bogs and wet savannas with nutrient-poor, acidic soils.
Native State, Country: North Carolina and South Carolina, USA
Growing Zones: Can be grown outdoors in zones 7-10, but often grown as a houseplant or in a terrarium in other zones.
Size at Maturity: Up to about 6 inches in diameter, with traps typically reaching 1-1.5 inches long.
Phenology: Herbaceous perennial
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Slow
Growth Habit: Rosette-forming, low-growing
Bloom Season: Spring (produces small white flowers on a tall stalk)
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil Texture: Nutrient-poor, acidic, and consistently moist. A mix of peat moss and sand is often used.
Soil pH: Acidic (around 4.5 - 5.5)
Moisture Requirements: Wet to moist. Requires consistently moist soil and high humidity.
Tolerance to Salt Spray: None
Keystone Plant: No (not native)
Recommended Landscape Uses: Bog gardens, container gardens, terrariums, carnivorous plant collections.
Maintenance Tips: Keep the soil consistently moist with distilled water or rainwater. Avoid fertilizing (they get nutrients from insects). May need dormancy period in winter.
Considerations: Carnivorous plant that traps insects with its hinged leaves. May need supplemental feeding with small insects if grown indoors.
Hurricane Wind Resistant: Yes (due to its low growth habit)
Erosion Control: No
Nitrogen Fixing: No
Edible: No
Pet Safe: Generally considered non-toxic to pets.
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: N/A (not typically an issue in its native habitat or when cultivated)
Historical Medicinal Uses: Some limited traditional medicinal uses, but not well-established.
Florida Native Companion Plant: N/A (not native, but can be grown with other carnivorous plants like sundews and pitcher plants)
Wildlife Benefit: Helps control populations of small insects.
Caterpillar Host Plant: No
Propagation: Seed, leaf cuttings, division
Length of time Seed is Viable: Short-lived, best sown fresh.
Best month to Start Seeds: Spring
Seed treatments: Surface sow seeds on a moist, acidic medium. Light is often required for germination.
DO NOT COLLECT FROM THE WILD! These are culture grown to support sustainability.
