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Conservatory Greenhouse

Drosera slackii
  • RHS AGM

Slack's sundew

Drosera slackii is a perennial carnivorous plant, producing pandurate or guitar-shaped leaves, up to 4cm long on a short stem. Leaves are green assuming a reddish-hue in high light and covered with red, sticky, glandular hairs, which trap and digest insect prey. A single or rarely double inflorescence to 40cm (16in) in height is produced in spring bearing deep pink, single flowers, 5-6cm (2-2½in) across

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Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0–0.1 metre
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink Green Red
Summer Green Red
Autumn Green Red
Winter Green Red
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Droseraceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus

Drosera, commonly known as the sundews are one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants. They are perennial or (more rarely) annual, upright herbaceous plants forming either prostrate or upright rosettes, and can live for up to 50 years.

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in a mix of equal parts moss peat or fertiliser-free peat substitute and sand, in full light, although may need shading from hot midday sun in summer. The compost should be kept continually moist to wet during the growing season by standing the container in a tray of lime-free water, such as rainwater or Reverse Osmosis water. Keep just moist during the winter and do not stand the plants in water. Do not apply fertiliser at all through the year. Minimum temperatures should be no lower than 5C in the winter. In lower temperatures the plant may die back to the roots, but sometimes regenerates again in the spring.

Propagation

Propagate by seed as soon as ripe. Stored seed rapidly loses viability. Leaf cuttings during the growing season and root cuttings taken when dormant are alternative methods of propagation

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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