Herself's Houseplants

. . . One of nature’s most recognized wonders, the venus flytrap’s ability to snatch living prey makes it a favorite of elementary school science classes everywhere. Yet the flytrap is falsely ferocious: It’s hardly the man-eating Audrey Jr. from “The Little Shop of Horrors,” but a tiny plant only a few inches tall with leaves no bigger than a thumbprint.

These days, the little plant is more vulnerable than ever. And despite its popularity, the people who could protect it seem focused on other problems.

The flytrap’s natural habitat exists only within a hundred miles of the Carolinas’ coast, where much larger and more territorial plants have always held forth. Booming growth and development along the coast threatens to overrun the few sensitive and thin populations of venus flytraps that still exist in the wild. . . [ read more Venus flytraps caught in shrinking habitat]

What can you do? Fight to save native habitats. Buy some fly traps from responsible sellers and show people just was a cool wonderful plant it is. Tell them why it is worth saving. Spread the word.

See also:
Save the Venus Flytrap
Audubon Magazine: Carnivorous Plants
United Plant Savers: Venus Flytrap

Big Thicket Nat’l Preserve has a large section of carnivorous plants growing. There are several trails you can take along wooden walkways through the swamps to view them. March and April are best if you want to see them flowering.