Drosera filiformis aka Threadleaf Sundew

Drosera filiformis, or threadleaf sundew, belongs to the sundew family, Droseraceae. This small, flesh-eating perennial grows in a temperate climate. Its native range runs from Nova Scotia into the eastern United States. The name filiformis refers to its thin, threadlike leaves. These leaves set it apart from native sundews with spoon-shaped leaves. It loses its leaves during dormancy and grows in upright clumps.

Plants reach about 0.3–1 foot (0.1–0.3 metres) tall. Their listed width is about 0.08–0.17 feet (0.025–0.05 metres). Each plant often carries four to eight leaves at its base. New leaves uncurl in spirals, much like young fern fronds. Leaf colours include green and yellow-green. Fine hairs bear red or green tips and drops of clear, sticky fluid. This fluid holds insects that land on the leaves. Plant enzymes break down the prey, and the plant takes up nutrients. Traps reopen four to six days after a catch. Each trap dies after catching prey two to four times.

Flowers rise above the leaves on bare stalks in June. The stalks stand 0.5–1 foot (0.15–0.3 metres) tall. Blooms may be white, pink, deep pink, or lavender-rose. Each star-shaped flower has four or five petals. Flowers stay open for a few hours in the morning. The fruit display begins in August, with fall also listed as its display season.

Give this sundew full sun and soil that stays moist. It also tolerates some shade for part of the day. Use whole-fibre sphagnum moss as a planting medium. Another option mixes equal parts peat and coarse vermiculite or sharp sand. The medium should be acidic and low in nutrients. It needs no fertilizer, since its prey supplies nutrients. Water with distilled water or rainwater, and keep moisture constant. A winter rest helps the plant live for many years. North Carolina State lists USDA zones 6a through 9a.

This species suits bog gardens, troughs, pots, and pond margins. It also fits native, rain, water, and children's gardens. Its unusual leaves make it useful as a small specimen. Indoors, stand its pot in a tray of suitable water. Divide clumps during dormancy, or raise new plants from seed. North Carolina State reports no major plant problems.