Description
Drosera auriculata is stem-forming tuberous sundew that begins with a rosette, then sends up a stem with shield-shaped leaves. The stems can grow to over 1’ tall and can be a yellowish-green to orange-red color depending on conditions. The small pink flowers readily self-pollinate and produce lots of linear seeds. It can be easily distinguished from Drosera gunniana by the glabrous sepals and linear seed (compared to hairy sepals and oblong seed). This form comes from Cooks Beach in Coromandel, New Zealand. This form of Drosera auriculata is an easy tuberous sundew for those new to tubers and is forgiving for dormancy. It readily germinates without treatment and grows very fast within its first season reaching flowering size on several inch tall stems.
Tuberous sundews come from Western Australia and grow during the cool and wet winters, dying back to underground tubers in the hot and dry summers. In around October-November, the tuber will send up a thin stem that emerges at the surface with a bud of new leaves, creating a fresh rosette in about a week. The plant needs to be fed to store energy in its tuber until the required summer dormancy. The leaves/stem turn brown and die when the rains stop and the soil dries out by around May. The dark and cool conditions a few inches under the soil allow the plants to survive the brutally hot summers.
While they are the most beautiful of all the Sundews, tuberous sundews are also the most challenging to grow. Their seasonal requirements are strictly necessary and managing proper moisture through the dormancy period is critical. Unlike most bog plants, these prefer better drainage and slightly drier soils. Experience with other sundews is highly recommended before trying Tuberous Sundews.
This listing is for a single tuber — roughly 3-5mm in diameter. This should grow into a flowering sized, mature plant. They can have a small stem already pre-empting the growing season which should be handled carefully and planted facing up. Plant these ~1.5” deep and keep dry until roughly September-October. The tubers can be stored cool, dry, and dark during summer but must be planted before the growing season.
Growing Information
Climate: Mediterranean (SW Australia). 40-85F, low to moderate humidity. High temperatures can cause the plants to prematurely go dormant.
Light: Full to Part Sun or 15W per sq ft LED light. Tuberous sundews love bright light but do not require as much as other sundews.
Water: Distilled or Reverse Osmosis water. Sitting in 0.5” of water using tray method. This species can tolerate wet conditions quite well.
Soil: 40% Peat: 60% Perlite/Sand is a good mix. Tuberous Sundews like well draining soils and less moisture than bog plants. Rinse media with distilled or reverse osmosis water to remove excess salts.
Feeding: Feed leaves with Insect Powder every month or so.
Description
Drosera auriculata is stem-forming tuberous sundew that begins with a rosette, then sends up a stem with shield-shaped leaves. The stems can grow to over 1’ tall and can be a yellowish-green to orange-red color depending on conditions. The small pink flowers readily self-pollinate and produce lots of linear seeds. It can be easily distinguished from Drosera gunniana by the glabrous sepals and linear seed (compared to hairy sepals and oblong seed). This form comes from Cooks Beach in Coromandel, New Zealand. This form of Drosera auriculata is an easy tuberous sundew for those new to tubers and is forgiving for dormancy. It readily germinates without treatment and grows very fast within its first season reaching flowering size on several inch tall stems.
Tuberous sundews come from Western Australia and grow during the cool and wet winters, dying back to underground tubers in the hot and dry summers. In around October-November, the tuber will send up a thin stem that emerges at the surface with a bud of new leaves, creating a fresh rosette in about a week. The plant needs to be fed to store energy in its tuber until the required summer dormancy. The leaves/stem turn brown and die when the rains stop and the soil dries out by around May. The dark and cool conditions a few inches under the soil allow the plants to survive the brutally hot summers.
While they are the most beautiful of all the Sundews, tuberous sundews are also the most challenging to grow. Their seasonal requirements are strictly necessary and managing proper moisture through the dormancy period is critical. Unlike most bog plants, these prefer better drainage and slightly drier soils. Experience with other sundews is highly recommended before trying Tuberous Sundews.
This listing is for a single tuber — roughly 3-5mm in diameter. This should grow into a flowering sized, mature plant. They can have a small stem already pre-empting the growing season which should be handled carefully and planted facing up. Plant these ~1.5” deep and keep dry until roughly September-October. The tubers can be stored cool, dry, and dark during summer but must be planted before the growing season.
Growing Information
Climate: Mediterranean (SW Australia). 40-85F, low to moderate humidity. High temperatures can cause the plants to prematurely go dormant.
Light: Full to Part Sun or 15W per sq ft LED light. Tuberous sundews love bright light but do not require as much as other sundews.
Water: Distilled or Reverse Osmosis water. Sitting in 0.5” of water using tray method. This species can tolerate wet conditions quite well.
Soil: 40% Peat: 60% Perlite/Sand is a good mix. Tuberous Sundews like well draining soils and less moisture than bog plants. Rinse media with distilled or reverse osmosis water to remove excess salts.
Feeding: Feed leaves with Insect Powder every month or so.
Image 1 of 6
Image 2 of 6
Image 3 of 6
Image 4 of 6
Image 5 of 6
Image 6 of 6
