I’ve heard Drosera filiformis referred to as nature’s anti-aircraft gun for its ability to snipe flying insects out of the air. It’s more commonly called the thread-leaved sundew due to its slender, filamentous leaves. These leaves unfurl from a center rosette, reaching up towards the sky in an effort to tempt low-altitude insects into taking a detour to Sticky Town.

There is a bit of confusion around the taxonomy of Drosera filiformis. It’s either A. one species with two varieties, B. two separate species, or C. two subspecies. Let’s assume for a moment that it’s one species with two varieties. At the end of the day, however it’s ultimately classified, one thing is certain – it’s a beautiful and unique sundew that every carnivorous plant enthusiast should give a go.

Drosera filiformis grows along the eastern seaboard of North America, spanning through Canada and the United states from south western Nova Scotia, through New England, and down into Florida where older plants go to retire. Like many other carnivorous plants, D. filiformis requires a dormancy, dying back into a hibernaculum, or a winter “bud” during cooler months. At this point, it may look like a dead plant, but it isn’t! This bud helps D. filiformis conserve energy during a time when conditions in its natural environment might otherwise be too harsh to survive. Think of it like a turtle ducking into its shell for safety, but for a few months at a time. Seasonal dormancy and similar growing conditions makes it a great candidate to live alongside Venus flytraps and pitcher plants in bog gardens.