The Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) is a perennial carnivorous plant, a member of the sundew family well known for consuming small insects. People grow it in part because of its unique and eye-catching look, but mostly because of what it does.
Notoriously difficult to care for, these fickle moisture-lovers can still thrive in your home with the proper knowledge and care. Follow these tips to successfully grow a Venus flytrap.
Venus flytraps are fascinating carnivorous plants that have captured people’s imaginations for centuries. Their unique trapping mechanisms allow them to catch and digest insect prey, making them one of the most iconic members of the plant kingdom. Though small in stature, reaching impressive sizes is a common goal for venus flytrap growers. But just how big can these insect-eating plants get?
Typical Venus Flytrap Size
In the wild, venus flytraps grow in the coastal bogs and wetlands of North and South Carolina. Here, they thrive in harsh, nutrient-poor conditions by trapping bugs to supplement their diet. A mature venus flytrap usually reaches about 4-5 inches in diameter and 6-12 inches in height. Their traps typically measure 1-2 inches long when fully grown.
This is the average size you can expect from a happy healthy flytrap grown in ideal conditions. However, there are many factors that affect their maximum size potential. With the right care and variety selection far larger plants are possible!
How Long It Takes Flytraps to Reach Full Size
Venus flytraps are relatively slow growing compared to most houseplants. Like deciduous trees, most of their growth occurs in spring and summer, followed by a period of winter dormancy. Here is a general timeline of how they progress:
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Seeds to small seedlings – Flytraps can be grown from seed but germination is tricky. It takes 3-6 months for tiny seedlings to establish.
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Year 1 – The plant grows leaves and traps, reaching 1-3 inches in diameter. Traps may be just 1/8 inch long.
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Year 2 – Growth accelerates, with traps getting 1⁄4 inch or longer. The whole plant spans 2-3 inches wide.
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Year 3 – Traps reach around 1⁄2 inch. Diameter grows to 4-5 inches across.
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Year 4 – The flytrap nears maturity. Traps exceed 1 inch, and the plant is 6 inches or more across.
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Year 5+ – Max size is attained, though some additional slow growth occurs for many more years. Traps may reach 2 inches on large varieties.
So you can expect your flytrap to hit full maturity around years 4-5 on average. This timeline can be shortened by 1-2 years by purchasing an established plant vs growing from seed. With ideal conditions and a large variety, impressive sizes are possible!
Tips for Growing Huge Venus Flytraps
Here are some key tips to maximize the size potential of your venus flytraps:
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Pick large varieties – Select known big growers like B-52, DC XL, or Dionaea Ginormous. Avoid naturally small varieties.
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Maximize sunlight – Flytraps need at least 4 hours of direct sun daily, with 6+ hours ideal. Supplement with grow lights.
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Use large pots – Allow room for roots to spread. Use 6 inch diameter and deeper pots.
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Provide dormancy – Ensure flytraps experience winter dormancy for health.
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Water from the bottom – Bottom watering encourages big roots.
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Feed insects – Boost growth by feeding bugs like small crickets.
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Stop flowering – Pinch off flower stalks to conserve energy.
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Repot frequently – Refresh compressed soil every 1-2 years.
Follow these tips and be patient – your plant can eventually become a giant!
What is the Biggest Venus Flytrap in the World?
The current record for the world’s largest venus flytrap belongs to grower Jeremiah Harris. In 2010, he documented a Dionaea ‘Alien’ plant with traps measuring a whopping 2.4 inches long!
‘Alien’ is an elongated, claw-shaped cultivar selected for its huge traps and aggressive feeding responses. Under perfect greenhouse conditions and several years of growth, Harris achieved this milestone.
Since then, a few other giant flytrap varieties have become available that may contend for the record. The Dionaea ‘DC XL’ is one to watch, along with ‘King Henry’ and others. But Harris still holds the undisputed record for now.
Monster Traps – How Big Can Flytraps Get?
Most venus flytraps max out around 1-2 inches trap length, and 4-6 inches diameter. But through selective breeding and mutation, horticulturists have created some true monster flytraps:
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B-52 – A classic giant, traps often exceed 2 inches. Can hit 2.5 inches.
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DC XL – New cultivar with huge traps rivaling B-52.
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Dionaea Ginormous – Largest clone, but weak traps.
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King Henry – Thick stems and big traps near 2 inches.
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Low Giant – Traps around 2 inches on compact plant.
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Akai Ryu – Translates to “Red Dragon”. Long traps.
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Slack’s Giant – Originated from famous UK grower.
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South West Giant – Tall flower stalks show off big leaves.
So realistically, Venus flytraps can achieve monster traps in the 2.5 inch range with the current largest cultivars. Careful breeding may enhance sizes further in the future!
Growth Rate and Factors
Keep in mind that flytraps grow in fits and spurts, not consistently. Growth accelerates in spring, and declines in summer heat and dormancy. Their rate of growth depends on four key factors:
Variety – Larger varieties have far greater size potential.
Age – Older plants have larger traps and diameter.
Light – More sunlight boosts growth speed significantly.
Food – Feeding insects provides extra nutrients.
Maximizing these factors means faster growth and larger ultimate size. Venus flytraps can live 15 years or more if cared for properly.
Can Flytraps Reach Unusual Sizes?
Occasionally, you may come across photos online of truly enormous venus flytraps. Jumbo plants the size of dinner plates with baseball-sized traps. How is this possible?
In nearly all cases, these unbelievable images have been digitally altered as a joke. Venus flytraps simply cannot naturally grow to that scale. Additionally, traps larger than 3-4 inches would not properly function.
However, selective breeding programs are ongoing, so slightly larger giants may be on the horizon. But claims or photos showing flytraps larger than 4-5 inches diameter or traps exceeding 3 inches length can be dismissed as fakes. Enjoy them for entertainment, not as reality!
Maximum Prey Size for Traps
Related to size potential is prey size. What critters can properly be eaten by venus flytraps? Here are some guidelines:
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Traps 1 inch long can fully close on house flies, spiders, ants, small moths.
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Larger 1.5 inch traps can eat wasps, bees, small grasshoppers and sizable spiders.
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Huge 2 inch monster traps can capture wasps, dragonflies, butterflies and even small frogs and mice.
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But anything too large to trigger the hairs or seal the trap are not digestible meals. Avoid prey larger than 1/3 to 1/2 trap size.
Adjust prey you feed your flytrap based on its trap dimensions. Smaller plants take down smaller bugs!
Comparison to Other Carnivorous Plants
How do venus flytraps compare to other meat-eating plants in terms of size? Here are a few standouts:
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Sundews – These sticky leaved plants are generally smaller than flytraps, maxing out below 6 inches diameter.
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Pitcher plants – Tropical pitcher plants like Nepenthes can grow vines 20 feet or longer! Traps (pitchers) range from tiny to over 16 inches tall on monster plants. But most are under 6 inches.
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Butterworts – Small like sundews, usually just a few inches in diameter or length.
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Bladderworts – Minuscule aquatic hunters less than 2 inches across.
So among popular carnivorous plants, the venus flytrap fits somewhere in the middle in terms of size impressiveness. Pitcher plants take the cake for truly enormous monster plants.
Size Considerations for Grow Spaces
When planning your venus flytrap growing setup, keep these size constraints in mind:
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Flytraps work great for desktop or windowsill growing. Containers 6-10 inches wide allow them room to spread out.
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They make excellent terrarium specimens and can be integrated into paludariums or vivariums nicely. Allow 8-12 inches diameter space.
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Larger varieties may need 1-2 feet space for the pot diameter alone. Maximize vertical space for the tallest varieties like SWG.
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Monster 2+ inch traps command your visual attention, so give big flytraps prominent display placement.
Adjust space allotted accordingly, and your plant will thrive!
Measuring Flytrap Size
When tracking the growth of your venus flytrap, some measurements are useful:
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Use a ruler to measure trap length tip to tip when fully open. Compare to previous measurements.
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For diameter, measure the widest point across the plant from leaf tip to leaf tip.
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Note the number of open traps. More traps indicates a larger, more mature plant.
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Measure pot size. Upsizing the pot often corresponds to plant growth.
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Optionally, weigh pots to gauge biomass changes over time.
Recording these measurements every few months provides helpful data to monitor size changes. Keep photos too for visual comparisons.
Should I Grow Venus Flytraps from Seed?
Growing venus flytraps from seed is an exciting challenge, but requires knowledge and patience. Here are factors to consider:
Pros:
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Satisfaction of growing a plant from “birth”.
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Much wider variety selection than buying plants.
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Low initial cost for a large number of seeds.
Cons:
-Less than 10% germination rate for beginners. Difficult!
-Very slow growth from tiny seedlings. Takes over 3 years to maturity.
-Higher chance of plant loss. Seeds and seedlings are fragile.
-Requires sterile tissue culture techniques for best results.
Overall, buying established plants yields larger faster growing flytraps more easily. But starting from seed is rewarding for expert growers seeking rare varieties. Both options offer enjoyment!
Sourcing Venus Flytrap Plants and Seeds
Finding high quality venus flytraps and supplies can be a challenge. Here are some recommended USA vendors:
Plants
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California Carnivores – Specialize in hybrids and cultivars
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Flytrap Store – Great selection and grower community
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Carnivero – MonsterNepenthes pitcher plants
Seeds
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Flytrap Store – Source of exotic crosses
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California Carnivores – Species and hybrid seeds
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Sarracenia Northwest – Mixed seed variety pack
Visit these websites to source great flytraps and continue your carnivorous plant growing journey!
Venus flytraps may seem small, but can develop into impressive beasts. With the right variety selection, optimized growing conditions, adequate sunlight and time, traps over 2 inches and diameters exceeding 6 inches are attainable. Care for your plant properly, and enjoy watching your own monster flytrap develop!
About Venus Flytrap
Venus flytrap grows in a narrow geographic range; it is native only to North and South Carolina. The “trap” of a Venus fly trap is actually a modified leaf. A plant can have as many as eight of them arising from flat stems (technically part of the leaf) around a basal rosette.
This leaf/trap consists of two lip-like lobes united by a hinge. Nectar within the trap is the bait that draws an insect in to its death. Once inside, if the insect makes contact with one of the trigger hairs, the trap is sprung: It closes, shutting up the prey inside. After digestion, the “jaws” reopen.
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The Spruce / Kara Riley
Types of Venus Flytraps
Plant developers have produced many cultivars of this unusual plant. Playing up the bizarre nature of the Venus fly trap, the cultivars sport colorful names. These cultivar names are also often highly descriptive, focusing on a particular feature that distinguishes the cultivar from the many others. Examples include:
- Dionaea Petite Dragon: One of the smallest Venus fly traps, its traps measure just half of an inch across.
- Dionaea Ginormous: At the other end of the spectrum, this cultivars traps measure 2.25 inches across.
- Dionaea DC All Red: The greatest distinction between one type of Venus fly trap and another is color-based. Most have traps with at least some green in them, and some are all green. Others have some combination of red, yellow, green, or purple in them. DC All Red is entirely red.
Colorado Springs man grows world’s largest Venus flytrap
FAQ
What is the biggest Venus flytrap ever recorded?
- Record Holder: Jeremiah Harris, a carnivorous plant enthusiast from Colorado Springs, grew the record-breaking Venus flytrap.
- Cultivar: The record-breaking trap belonged to the “Alien” cultivar, known for its elongated traps and short teeth.
- Measurement: The trap measured 6.1 centimeters (2.4 inches) across the midrib.
- Guinness World Records: The record was verified by Guinness World Records in 2022.
- Other Large Cultivars: Other notable large Venus flytrap cultivars include “B52” and “Slack’s Giant”.
- Typical Trap Size: While the record holder is an outlier, typical Venus flytrap traps are around 2-3 centimeters wide across the midrib.
- Harris’s Ambitions: Harris aims to grow even larger traps, with a goal of producing a 10-centimeter (almost four-inch) trap.
- Harris’s other accomplishments: In 2019 Harris also sold the world’s most expensive carnivorous plant, which went for $4,500
How big can an indoor Venus flytrap get?
| Genus Name | Dionaea |
|---|---|
| Height | 1 to 5 inches |
| Width | 3 to 5 inches |
| Flower Color | White |
| Foliage Color | Blue/Green, Purple/Burgundy |
What is the lifespan of a Venus flytrap?
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Lifespan:
- Venus flytraps are perennial plants, meaning they live for more than two years.
- They can live for about 20 years in optimal conditions.
- They can live longer, potentially indefinitely, as they can clone themselves by dividing and forming smaller plants around the central parent plant.
- Venus flytraps are perennial plants, meaning they live for more than two years.
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Dormancy:
- Venus flytraps require a cold winter dormancy to survive long-term.
- During dormancy, some traps may turn black and die as the plant enters its winter resting phase.
- Allowing the plant to go dormant each year is crucial for its long-term health and survival.
- Venus flytraps require a cold winter dormancy to survive long-term.
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Care:
- Venus flytraps need strong light, pure water, and plenty of food (insects).
- They can be grown indoors and do not necessarily need to enter dormancy, but a dormancy period can benefit the plant.
- The traps on the plant can only open and close several times before they die and fall off, and the plant produces new traps.
- Venus flytraps need strong light, pure water, and plenty of food (insects).
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Reproduction:
- Venus flytraps reproduce sexually through flowering and asexually through buds that grow from short rhizomes.
- They can also be propagated by seed, taking around four to five years to reach maturity, or by clonal division in spring or summer.
- Most Venus flytraps found for sale in nurseries garden centers have been produced using plant tissue culture.
- Venus flytraps reproduce sexually through flowering and asexually through buds that grow from short rhizomes.
What is the largest Venus flytrap you can buy?
The B52 is a giant clone that makes traps 1.75 inches across when fully grown. It is one of the largest, if not the largest, giant Venus Flytrap clones.
How big does a Venus flytrap grow?
Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) have leaves up to a foot long (2.3 in). The passage is about the Nepenthes Rajah, which is not the Venus flytrap. Here’s the corrected version: The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant with leaves up to a foot long (2.3 in).
How big is a Venus Fly Trap?
Jeremiah Harris, a carnivorous plant specialist, grew the biggest Venus fly trap ever recorded, winning a Guinness World Record for this. One single trap on Harris’ plant measured 2.4 inches or 6.1 centimeters! How Long Can a Venus Fly Trap Live Indoors? Venus fly traps can live for up to 20 years indoors if cared for properly.
Are all Venus flytraps the same size?
Not all Venus flytraps are meant to reach the same dimensions. Generally, the height of the plant won’t vary too much, but the size of the traps can vary significantly. The B-52 variety is considered to be a giant Venus flytrap cultivar as their traps easily reach two inches in length.