Drosera aliciae

Alice's Sundew, Alice Sundew, Shepherd's Crook Sundew, Sondou

Easy careTerrestrialNon-toxic540 cm

A compact carnivorous plant endemic to the fynbos bogs and seepages of South Africa's Cape Provinces, where it traps and digests small insects to supplement the nutrient-poor, waterlogged soils it grows in. Each wedge-shaped leaf is densely covered in stalked glandular hairs — called tentacles — tipped with sticky mucilage that sparkles in bright light and deepens to vivid red as light intensity increases. The rosette stays tight and small, rarely exceeding 5 cm across, which makes it one of the most space-efficient carnivorous plants for a bog dish or open terrarium. It is widely regarded as one of the easiest sundews to grow, tolerating a broad temperature window and requiring no dormancy period — just constant moisture, bright light, and mineral-free water.

Build a terrarium with this plant

Care

Prefers high humidity, bright indirect light, with 5–30 °C, and reaches 40 cm at maturity.

Light

Bright indirect(preferred)Direct lightIndirect light

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Medium (40–60%)

Temperature

0°C20°C40°C
5°C30°C

Soil

Sphagnum mix(preferred)Peat mossSandy

Moisture

Wet(preferred)Moist

Soil pH

4.5 – 5.5

Propagation

Remove a healthy, fully open leaf with a clean blade or by gently pulling it free from the base. Lay it flat on moist sphagnum or a 1:1 peat-perlite mix and cover with a clear dome to keep humidity high. Tiny plantlets emerge from the leaf base and mid-section within two to six weeks and can be separated once they produce their own dew-tipped tentacles.

Native range

Native to Southern Africa.

Appearance

Growth habit

RosetteClumping

Leaf shape

Oval

Leaf texture

Fuzzy

Frequently asked

Can Alice's Sundew grow in a closed terrarium?

Yes. Alice's Sundew prefers high (60–80%) humidity, which is what a closed terrarium provides, and tolerates bright-indirect-light-loving conditions.

Does Alice's Sundew need drainage?

Alice's Sundew prefers a wet substrate. Drainage is helpful but not critical; consistent moisture matters more.

What humidity does Alice's Sundew need?

Alice's Sundew does best in high (60–80%) humidity.

Is Alice's Sundew pet-safe?

Alice's Sundew is considered non-toxic to common household pets.

How tall does Alice's Sundew grow?

Alice's Sundew typically reaches 5–40 cm at maturity.

How do you propagate Alice's Sundew?

Alice's Sundew can be propagated by leaf cuttings or division or seeds.

References

  1. 1

    Kew Plants of the World Online — Drosera aliciae (accepted name)

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/321775-1
  2. 2
  3. 3

    PlantZAfrica (SANBI) — Drosera aliciae

    https://pza.sanbi.org/drosera-aliciae
  4. 4

    RHS — Drosera aliciae (Princess Alice's Sundew)

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/6131/drosera-aliciae/details
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7

    ICPS — Drosera Leaf Cuttings propagation guide

    https://www.carnivorousplants.org/grow/guides/DroseraLeafCuttings
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10

    Highland Moss — Carnivorous Sundew Drosera aliciae (non-toxic confirmation)

    https://highlandmoss.com/shop-2/house-plants/pet-friendly/carnivorous-sundew-drosera-aliciae/
  11. 11

    ASPCA Toxic Plant List — D listing (Drosera not listed; confirmed non-toxic for genus)

    https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/d
  12. 12

    Greg App — Sundew hardiness zones (9a–11b general range)

    https://greg.app/sundew-hardiness-zone/
  13. 13

    Growplants.org — Drosera aliciae care

    https://www.growplants.org/growing/drosera-aliciae