Dionaea muscipula, Venus Flytrap, 10 seeds, zones 7-10, eats insects, eats arachnids

The Venus flytrap, or Dionaea muscipula, is a captivating carnivorous plant native to the wetlands of North and South Carolina, famous for its unique way of catching insects. Its modified leaves form traps with two hinged lobes lined with spiny teeth to secure prey. These traps can reach up to 15 cm in length, usually green but often turning red in bright sunlight. 

The plant snaps shut on insects or arachnids when sensitive hairs inside the lobes are touched, trapping them for digestion. Found only in small areas of coastal Carolina, it thrives in nutrient-poor, sandy, and damp habitats. 

Sadly, habitat loss has made it vulnerable, with threats from agriculture and urban growth. To grow well, Venus flytraps need plenty of sunlight, high humidity, and moist—yet not waterlogged—soil made of sphagnum moss and peat. 

Although they photosynthesize, they benefit from the nutrients in live insects, which should be offered occasionally when kept indoors.

10 Fresh seeds