Dionaea muscipula 'Bloody Nurse' – Venus Flytrap

Dionaea muscipula ‘Bloody Nurse’ is a distinctive Venus Flytrap clone known for its broad, strongly curved traps, shortened marginal teeth and deep red interior colour. Its unusual trap structure gives mature plants a heavier, more pronounced appearance than a typical Venus Flytrap.

Clone Characteristics

• Trap form: Broad traps that can develop a curved, cupped or slightly conical form.
• Marginal teeth: Shorter and stouter than the long, slender cilia found on typical Venus Flytraps.
• Colour: Green outer growth contrasting with rich red to burgundy pigmentation and occasional red striping inside the traps.
• Growth habit: A compact, rosette-forming clone producing medium to large traps as it matures.
• Seasonal expression: Trap width, curvature, marginal teeth and colour vary with maturity, light and seasonal conditions.

Seasonal Appearance

Venus Flytraps change considerably throughout the year. During active growth, ‘Bloody Nurse’ produces fresh leaves and its largest, most strongly developed traps. Young or recently divided plants may require time to display the broad trap form associated with a mature example of the clone.

During winter dormancy, growth becomes more compact and the plant may have smaller traps, fewer active leaves and some blackening of older growth. This seasonal dieback is normal. The living plant remains below and around the growing point and resumes stronger growth as conditions warm in spring.

Red pigmentation varies with light, temperature, maturity and the season. The plant supplied may therefore differ from the photographs in both colour and trap development depending on the time of year.

Care

• Light: Grow outdoors in a sunny position. Strong light supports compact growth, healthy trap development and deeper colour.
• Water: Use rainwater, distilled water or reverse osmosis water. Do not use ordinary tap water unless it is known to contain very low levels of dissolved minerals.
• Watering method: During active growth, stand the pot in a shallow tray of suitable water and do not allow the growing medium to dry out. Reduce the water level during winter dormancy, but keep the medium damp.
• Growing medium: Use a nutrient-poor carnivorous plant mix, such as sphagnum peat combined with perlite or silica sand. Do not use ordinary potting mix.
• Feeding: Plants grown outdoors will normally catch enough insects without assistance. Do not apply standard plant fertilisers or repeatedly trigger the traps.
• Dormancy: Venus Flytraps are temperate plants with a natural winter resting period. Protect potted plants from severe or prolonged freezing conditions.

What You Will Receive

You will receive one established plant growing in a 70mm pot. Images show ‘Bloody Nurse’ during one or more stages of growth and are representative of the plants available. Individual plants will vary in size, trap number, colour, curvature and seasonal appearance.