Isabel | Cape Sundew

Meet Isabel. A little sparkle, a little intrigue, and an appetite you might not expect. Her slender green leaves wear red tentacles tipped with glistening droplets, beautiful to admire, sticky trouble for tiny insects.

Isabel is the jewel collector of the Character Garden. She likes abundant light, consistently wet roots, and pure water. Distilled, rainwater, or reverse-osmosis water, please…she has standards.

Her taste in soil is equally particular: a nutrient-poor carnivorous plant mix suits her perfectly. Skip the rich compost and ordinary fertilizer. She prefers to catch her own little extras.

Once you understand her preferences, this Cape sundew makes a rewarding introduction to carnivorous plants. She doesn’t require a winter dormancy period, so there’s no scheduled disappearance from the party.

“I like my water pure, my surroundings bright, and my visitors small enough to eat.”

Overview

The Drosera capensis, commonly known as the Cape Sundew, is a captivating carnivorous plant that forms a rosette of green leaves tipped with red tentacles. This rooted plant arrives in a 2.5" pot, making it an intriguing addition for enthusiasts interested in unique and insect-catching flora.

Care Level: 4/10 — Sparkling with Specific Preferences

Light: A very bright windowsill or suitable grow light. Introduce direct sun gradually; protect from excessive heat.

Water: Use distilled water, clean collected rainwater, or reverse-osmosis water. Avoid mineral water and ordinary tap water unless confirmed suitable for carnivorous plants.

Watering Routine: Keep the growing medium consistently wet. Stand the nursery pot in a shallow tray of suitable water and replenish it before the soil dries. Keep the leaves above water.

Soil: A fertilizer-free carnivorous plant mix, such as sphagnum peat moss with horticultural silica sand or fertilizer-free perlite. Do not use ordinary potting soil or compost.

Feeding: Small insects provide supplemental nutrients. Never feed meat or add ordinary houseplant fertilizer. Frequent hand-feeding is unnecessary.

Humidity: A sealed terrarium is not required. Provide airflow and avoid overheating under glass.

Temperature: Moderate, frost-free conditions; protect from extreme heat and freezing.

Winter Care: No required winter dormancy.

Scientific Name: Drosera capensis

Common Name: Cape Sundew

Plant Class: Magnoliopsida

Plant Type: Carnivorous herbaceous perennial

Location: Indoor; outdoors during suitable mild, frost-free weather.

Color: Green foliage with red tentacles and clear, glistening droplets.

Pet Safety: Keep out of reach of pets; this listing does not certify pet safety.

Isabel’s Golden Rule: “Pure water, wet roots, bright light. I’ll handle the tiny visitors.”

Important Note

What to Expect When Isabel Arrives

You’ll receive a rooted Cape sundew in a 2.5-inch nursery pot. Size, leaf count, coloration, and visible droplets may vary from the photograph. A decorative planter is not included unless explicitly stated.

Shipping and changes in growing conditions may temporarily reduce visible droplets or affect some leaves. Significant damage or an unhealthy-looking plant should still be reported for review.

Inspect Isabel promptly upon delivery. Contact hello@ilexatelier.com within 24 hours about arrival concerns, including your order number and clear photos of the plant, affected areas, shipping box, and shipping label.

Keep the plant and packaging while we review your concern. Live plants are not eligible for change-of-mind returns. See our Return Policy for available resolutions. This reporting request does not limit rights provided by applicable law.