Spoonleaf Sundew
ExplorePlants
Spoonleaf Sundew
drosera intermedia
The Spoonleaf Sundew is a fascinating plant that catches tiny bugs with its sticky leaves! Kids will love to learn how this plant eats insects to get nutrients from them.
Habitat: Wetlands and boggy areas
Appearance
The Spoonleaf Sundew has small, spoon-shaped leaves arranged in a rosette, often tinged with striking red or orange hues. Its leaves are covered in glistening, clear sticky droplets that look like morning dew, designed to trap tiny insects. It produces tiny white or pale pink flowers on a slender stalk.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyDroseraceaeGenusDrosera
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
9
Interesting facts
It often grows right next to Sphagnum moss, which helps create its perfect wetland home!
Its name, Drosera, comes from a Greek word meaning 'dewy' because of its sparkling leaves!
Some sundews have been observed to move their sticky tentacles in just seconds to trap prey!
This amazing plant can actually live for many years, making it a long-lived bog resident!
Special abilities
Ability
Sticky Traps
Spoonleaf Sundew can catch small insects using sticky, glistening dewdrops on its leaves that act like flypaper.
Ability
Nutrient Power-Up
Spoonleaf Sundew can digest its insect prey with special enzymes to get extra nutrients its boggy soil lacks.
Ability
Leaf Hug
Spoonleaf Sundew has leaves that can slowly curl inward, enveloping trapped insects to ensure a successful meal.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 2-10 cm
- Spread
- 3-8 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-0.8 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
A common small insect that often becomes a meal.
pollinates
honey bee
Apis mellifera
These insects help transfer pollen between flowers, aiding reproduction.
depends on
prickly bog-moss
Sphagnum cuspidatum
Often grows directly in dense mats of this moss for its acidic habitat.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
Drosera intermediaIntermediate SundewSpoon-leaf Sundew
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Spoonleaf Sundew?
The easiest way to identify Spoonleaf Sundew is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Spoonleaf Sundew?
2-10 cm
How wide does Spoonleaf Sundew spread?
3-8 cm
How big are the flowers on Spoonleaf Sundew?
0.5-0.8 cm
When does Spoonleaf Sundew bloom?
Summer
Is Spoonleaf Sundew edible?
No
Is Spoonleaf Sundew toxic?
None
What is Spoonleaf Sundew's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Jun 19, 2026
Camp Evansi
Photo attribution
(c) Jason K., some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 4, 2026
Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Centeri
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 26, 2026
Cheshami
Photo attribution
(c) Jaime McGuigan, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
Park38 sightings50 species
Wisconsin, US
Black Tern Bog State Natural Area
You might spot Purple Pitcher Plant, Papillose Peatmoss, and Tamarack.
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Park45 sightings50 species
New Jersey, US
Camp Evans
You might spot Brant, Laughing Gull, and Great Black-Backed Gull.
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Park26 sightings50 species
New Hampshire, US
Chesham
You might spot Eastern Red-Backed Salamander and Eastern Newt.
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Zoo30 sightings14 species
New York, US
Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center
You might spot Coral, Sea Lion, and African Penguin.
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Aquarium30 sightings13 species
New York, US
Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center
You might spot Sand Tiger Shark, African Penguin, and Sea Lion.
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Park30 sightings12 species
South Carolina, US
East Home Avenue Historic District
You might spot Northern Mockingbird, Yaupon Holly, and Heavenly Bamboo.
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