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Fork-leaved Sundew (Drosera binata)

Drosera binata is a large, clumping, carnivorous herb with leaves growing from a basal rosette, and it is perennial.

LightDrosera binata grows in full sun or very bright conditions; greenhouse plants can receive ample light, with some shading in hot, intense light.
WaterKeep the medium wet during growth, using pure water only (rain, RO or distilled); tray (bottom) watering is suitable. In winter, keep the medium moist but avoid excessive waterlogging.
HumidityBased on few sources, humidity is reported at about 50–70 %, and the plant is generally described as needing good airflow.
TemperatureBased on few sources, the reported minimum is about 0 °C, the ideal range about 20–35 °C, and the maximum about 35 °C. It is generally reported to be frost hardy. Sources differ on cold winter dormancy.
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Overview

Drosera binata is a large, clumping, carnivorous herb with leaves growing from a basal rosette, and it is perennial.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range, describing it from southeastern Australia and New Zealand, including coastal Queensland south through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania and southeastern South Australia, as well as the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. It grows in moist environments including swamps, wet sandy ground, sandy peatland, stream banks and rocky shelves; in New Zealand it is generally found at lower elevations. It is reported from temperate to subtropical environments, with some populations entering winter dormancy while others have a tropical form.

Characteristics

Mature plants reach 10–50 cm in height; based on few sources, their spread is reported to be about 10–50 cm. Sources differ in their descriptions of leaf dimensions, but agree that the leaves are narrow and forked, usually dividing once and sometimes dividing again; they bear red glandular hairs and mucilage that capture and digest insects, and cultivated forms can develop additional terminal branches. The white flowers are borne in clusters on inflorescences held above the foliage. Flowering is described across an extended period, while RHS describes it as summer flowering in Northern Hemisphere horticultural terms; the fruit is reported to be a nearly ovoid to nearly round capsule containing many small, narrow seeds.

Light

Drosera binata grows in full sun or very bright conditions; greenhouse plants can receive ample light, with some shading in hot, intense light.

Watering

Keep the medium wet during growth, using pure water only (rain, RO or distilled); tray (bottom) watering is suitable. In winter, keep the medium moist but avoid excessive waterlogging.

Humidity and airflow

Based on few sources, humidity is reported at about 50–70 %, and the plant is generally described as needing good airflow.

Temperature and dormancy

Based on few sources, the reported minimum is about 0 °C, the ideal range about 20–35 °C, and the maximum about 35 °C. It is generally reported to be frost hardy. Sources differ on cold winter dormancy.

Growing medium and mounting

Use an acidic, moist, nutrient-poor peaty environment; sandy media are also suitable, including sand with peat.

Feeding

Fertilizer is generally not applied, and the plant is reported to grow without fertilizer or supplemental insect feeding.

Propagation

Drosera binata can be propagated from seed or root cuttings; some cultivation sources also describe leaf cuttings, and new plants can sprout from the roots.

Common problems

RHS reports that pests are generally uncommon, while general sundew cultivation information notes that aphids may occur with poor airflow and spider mites may occur in hot, dry conditions. Disease problems are generally reported to be uncommon. The medium should not dry out, while winter-dormant plants should avoid excessive waterlogging. Weather tolerance varies considerably among forms: some are temperate and require cold winter dormancy, some are tropical, and NHK also notes that some forms do not tolerate high summer temperatures.

Identification

The most conspicuous features are narrow trapping leaves that fork or branch repeatedly, with branches densely covered in mucilage-secreting glandular hairs; the typical form has distinctly forked leaf tips.

Photos

Drosera binata
📷 No machine-readable author provided. NoahElhardt assumed (ba · CC BY-SA 2.5 · source
Drosera binata
📷 Kerri-Lee Harris, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by · CC BY · source
Drosera binata
📷 Athene Rafie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · source

Sources