Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula) Guide | Our House Plants

By Tom Knight

Venus Flytrap Facts

Trying to grow a Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a rite of passage for many indoor gardeners. Sadly, for most of us, it ends with a rubbish-looking plant a few weeks later.

Why do they fare so poorly in our homes? The simple truth is that they are not standard houseplants and you can't treat them as such.

They have very specific needs that are almost the complete opposite of your other indoor plants. But don't worry. Once you understand the golden rules these fascinating carnivorous plants can live for up to 20 years. Here is everything you need to know to succeed.

A small carnivorous plant that reacts and moves in front of your eyes, it's no wonder we love them! But these iconic houseplants can be tricky if the care they get isn't right. Photo by Mike Aronesty via Wikipedia

Despite their popularity, the main reason they expire quite quickly in the hands of a lay person is the lack of correct care (and triggering the traps for "fun"). I won't say they're simple plants to have around, but with some adjustment to how you might treat and care for a "normal" houseplant they can certainly live in your home or office longer than a few weeks.

They can certainly live in your home longer than just a few weeks (up to 30 years actually!)

There is only the one species of Venus Flytrap, so although there are different varieties and cultivars you can get hold of, most need identical care requirements and will have quite similar growth patterns. The cultivars create individuality through their appearance, some have larger traps and others have different markings or colours.

However these are only likely to appeal to the seasoned collector due to the price they can command. Even standard Venus Flytraps can be expensive whereas the cultivars can fetch a great deal more, so as you might be able to predict this means these plants are sometimes difficult to find.

Why the name "Venus Flytrap"?

Venus Named after the Roman goddess of love. In 1768, botanist John Ellis chose this as a cheeky reference to the trap's physical resemblance to female anatomy. Dionaea This is the genus name. It refers to Dione, the mother of Aphrodite (Venus), reinforcing the "Goddess of Love" theme chosen by Ellis. Muscipula Latin for "mousetrap." Ellis chose this word over "flytrap" because he felt the plant's mechanical snap was so powerful it deserved a more formidable name. The Verdict So, the name is a mix of 18th-century "naughty" humor and a genuine awe for the plant's unique ability to move and trap prey.

Taking stock so far, I've told you that Venus Flytraps are difficult to keep, expensive and hard to find. I haven't really sold the plant to you have I.

At the end of the day a lot of people have a soft spot for these quirky plants and you'll either love or hate the idea of them. The negatives might not be negatives depending on your perspective so once you have your new plant all you need to know is how to keep your Venus Flytrap alive.

They might not be everyone's cup of tea, but most people would agree they're interesting houseplants.

Did You Know? A Venus Flytrap can snap shut in less than half a second. Charles Darwin was so fascinated by this plant and what it could do that, in his 1875, book "Insectivorous Plants" he called it "one of the most wonderful in the world."

The main reason for failure is that these plants are typically a victim of their own popularity, it seems everyone out there has an idea about how a Venus Flytrap needs to be treated.

Some suggestions are correct and others total myths. Mess up on just one of the care requirements and you're potentially doomed. On top of that, don't forget a rest is needed in winter and you must understand the purpose of the traps and stop tricking them into triggering. Which leads us on nicely to the actual care instructions.