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Photo by Larry Mellichamp.

Could there be Venus Flytrap on my land?

There are multiple factors that influence whether habitat is appropriate for Venus Flytrap, not the least of which is whether your land is within the historic range where the species occurred (consult the map on our ABOUT page). Below we've compiled a list of questions that can guide you as you search for the answer to the question, Could there be Venus Flytrap on my land?
First answer these questions:
  • Do you have longleaf and/or pond pine on your property? 
  • Does sunlight reach the ground (or is the tree overstory so dense that sunlight never reaches there)?
  • Is the soil sandy?
  • Is the soil moist or wet for part of the year?
If your answer to these four questions is Yes, then there is a possibility that Venus Flytraps grow here. ​ Continue on to the next questions . . . 
  • Are there lots of grasses? (see photo to right)
  • ​Do you see this plant (below), the yellow pitcher plant, or other pitcher plants? 
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Yellow pitcher plant. Photo by Larry Mellichamp.
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Searching for Flytraps. Photo by Steve Apfelbaum.
  • Are there other insectivorous plants like the sundew (at right)? 
  • Are there colorful orchids (two photos below)? 
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Rose pogonia orchid. Photo by Larry Mellichamp.
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Orange-fringed orchid. Photo by Larry Mellichamp.
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Sundew. Photo by Larry Mellichamp.
  • Next question: what about sphagnum moss? If Yes, look underfoot for Venus Flytrap (photo at right)!
  • Yet also . . . note that Flytraps don’t always grow in beds of sphagnum moss. Sometimes they can be found on bare soil, as in the photo below. 
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Venus Flytrap growing on bare soil. Photo by Larry Mellichamp.
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Venus Flytrap in sphagnum moss. Photo by Brady Beck.
Good luck on your search for Venus Flytrap on your land!  And please let us know if you find anything or have questions--we are here to help. LEARN HOW to become a "Venus Flytrap Champion," or use our CONTACT FORM to get in touch.
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Venus Flytrap (white flowers) growing among grasses at the edge of a pocosin shrub bog. Photo by Larry Mellichamp.