I have been growing Australian carnivorous plants indoors for years, I find them fascinating with their reddish hairy leaves arranged in complex arrays designed to entice insects to land. So when I installed my pond last year I thought I would try emulating their native habitat and plant some around the edges of the water line. I’m extremely pleased I did Drosera binata has been one of the most satisfying native plants to become established as a pond edge species.

Drosera binata flowers in Summer with tall, showy, flower stems around 40cm high and clusters of white flowers around 2.5cm in diameter.

I planted mine between the boulders that edge the pond in gravel where they have constantly wet feet when the pond is full. I have used sphagnum moss to surround their root ball, you can also use coir.

The leaves are narrow and unfurl in a manner similar to ferns, they really are a weird and wonderful plant to grow, changing quickly.

The Genus Droscera is concentrated in New Zealand and Australia with around 100 species existing in Australia alone. Drosera binata is one of the most common species and you can find it growing along the east coast of Australia anywhere with constant moisture and ample insects.

Recently I stumbled across this patch of Droscera growing on a cliff top on the Escarpment north of Bulli. The soil was peaty and moist with constant water as it was directed over the cliff edge.

They were growing happily amongst the ferns and rushes, despite their exposed position.

These carnivorous plants trap insects against the leaves with the inward bending hairs. The insect is then digested by fluids which are secreted by the plant and the nutrients are taken up by the leaf. They are a totally unique Genus and I encourage everyone to try growing one, as an indoor plant inside sitting in a dish of water is a good start.