South African sundew with dense rosettes and red-tinted tentacles in good light

Drosera aliciae comes from the Cape provinces in South Africa, just like the Cape sundew Drosera capensis, and is one of the most common sundews in cultivation.

The plant forms small, dense rosettes of wedge-shaped leaves, up to 5 centimeters in diameter. In good light conditions, the insect-trapping tentacles take on a deep color from anthocyanin pigments, which likely helps to attract insects.

The flowers are pink and sit on stalks that are held about 30 centimeters away from the carnivorous leaves, so that pollinators do not get stuck in the traps.

The species resembles several closely related sundews. D. slackii is slightly larger with a slightly different growth habit and rosettes up to 8 centimeters, while D. natalensis has hairier stipules and a greater distance between the leaf base and the sticky trichomes.

Care

Relatively easy to grow. Thrives in a bright location with some direct sun; plenty of light provides the deep red color in the tentacles.

Use a nutrient-poor substrate of sphagnum moss and perlite or sand; never use regular potting soil or fertilizer. Water only with distilled or rainwater and let the pot stand in 1 to 2 centimeters of water constantly.

Ideal temperature 15-30 degrees Celsius. Does not need to be fed; it catches its own insects.