PlantFiles: Round Leaved Sundew
Drosera rotundifolia

According to the Peterson Guide to Medicinal Plants, traditionaly, a tea or tincture was used to treat dry, spasmodic coughs, asthsma and bronchitis. Also used as an aphrodisiac. Poultices used to treat warts and corns.

This plant grows best outside in a bog garden.

An insectivorous, short lived perennial from all over the Northern Hemisphere and sometimes found in parts of South Africa and South America.

Has spoon shaped, pale green leaves covered in red hairs which sport a sticky substance on the tip. The sticky substance is used to attract and trap insects. Once the insect is caught the leaf then folds itself around the creature to digest it. Bears a slim flower spike with 2-15, white, 5 petalled, saucer shaped flowers which open in succession.

Flowers July-September

Needs a constantly moist, acid, nutrient deficient soil in full sun. It will not tolerate dry soil for more than a couple of days nor will it survive shading for any length of time. Water should be rain water if possible, it will struggle if there is any lime in the soil or water. If using tap water, boil it a couple of times and let it go cold before watering the plants, this isn't ideal but it's not always easy to get rain water. Do not use a fertilizer at any point, they do not require it.

If kept indoors, keep the pot in a deep saucer which is filled with water at all times.

During a cold winter the leaves may hibernate by rolling up, the older leaves will probably die off at this point leaving the younger leaves in tight buds.

The leaves were once used to curdle cheese in Sweden and also to treat warts. There is also a possibility that they may be reasonably effective in treating respiritory diseases.

Very easy to grow and interesting plant.