Drosera schizandra, also known as the heart-leaf sundew, is a rare and delicate carnivorous plant endemic to the rainforests of Far North Queensland, particularly around Mount Bartle Frere and Bellenden Ker within Wooroonooran National Park.
It grows in wet, shaded environments such as stream banks, moss-covered rocks, and clay embankments, typically at elevations between 400–700 meters. Adapted to low-light, humid conditions, it thrives in temperatures ranging from 18–25°C year-round, with rainfall concentrated in the summer wet season but supplemented by orographic lift during the dry season.
D. schizandra forms a low-growing rosette of broad, green leaves with a distinctive notch at the tip, earning it the nickname “carnivorous lettuce.” Its leaves have sparse tentacles and limited dew production, suggesting a possible evolutionary shift away from active carnivory.
The plant rarely flowers and produces little seed, but it propagates through root plantlets and leaf cuttings. It typically reaches a size of around 5–10 cm in diameter, making it one of the largest rosetted sundews
Drosera schizandra I 'Giant form'
Care Guide for Drosera schizandra
- Light: Very low light; indirect or filtered light only. Avoid direct sun.
- Humidity: Extremely high (80–100%). Best grown in a terrarium or greenhouse.
- Temperature: Stable, cool to warm (18–25°C). Avoid temperature swings.
- Water: Use pure water (rain, distilled, or RO). Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
- Soil: Mix of sphagnum moss, perlite, and orchid bark. Needs excellent drainage.
- Feeding: Rarely needed due to weak carnivory. Occasional misting with dilute orchid fertilizer may help.
- Propagation: Best via leaf cuttings or root plantlets. Seeds are rarely produced.