Venus Flytrap is one of the most iconic carnivorous plants in the world, native only to a small area of the Carolinas in the United States — within roughly 75 miles of Wilmington, NC. The snap-trap leaves close in about one-tenth of a second when trigger hairs are touched twice, trapping insects and spiders that are then slowly digested. It grows in nutrient-poor, waterlogged, fire-maintained longleaf pine savannas. Venus Flytrap is vulnerable in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal poaching, despite being legally protected in North Carolina.
Best time to see a Venus Flytrap
The best time to see a Venus Flytrap is March–June, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,180 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Venus Flytrap? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Venus Flytrap sightings near you
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