Best carnivorous plants to grow

Most people are familiar with well-known carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps, but there are lots of other beautiful types to grow, too.

Hardy types such as sarracenias have a few care requirements, including: always watering with rainwater from a water butt or bucket left outside and continuing to keep the compost moist; ensuring they have lots of direct sunlight; and giving them a period of winter cold by keeping them in an unheated shed, conservatory or greenhouse.

Tropical species such as nepenthes have slightly different care requirements. For example, no period of winter rest is needed. They enjoy bright light with little direct sun, and they need plenty of warmth and humidity - a bright, steamy bathroom is ideal. Rainwater is still best when watering. Unlike the hardy species, tropical species aren't bog plants, so don't need to be standing in water all the time.

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Sarracenia 'Juthatip Soper', pitcher plant

Sarracenias hybridise readily, so there are lots of beautiful hybrids to grow. Sarracenia ‘Juthatip Soper’ has glorious pink and red pitchers that can reach 30cm in height. Grow in full sun so they can produce the best pitcher colour. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Sarracenia ‘Juthatip Soper’ from Crocus

Sarracenia flava, yellow pitcher plant

Sarracenia flava is an eye-catching species that produces tall, lime-green pitchers with red veining on the throats and erect hoods. The dramatic yellow flowers reach 10cm across. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Sarracenia flava from Crocus

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa, purple pitcher plant

With squat pitchers reaching only 30cm in height, Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa is a compact variety of this attractive carnivorous plant. The green traps have dramatic purple-red veining that continues onto the upright hoods. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa from Suttons

Drosera binata var. multifida, forked sundew

Droseras are commonly known as sundews. They trap their pray by luring them in with glistening, sweet secretions that stick to unfortunate insects. Most species are able to bend their leaves and tentacles around trapped prey, which allows more digestive enzymes to come into contact with it, speeding digestion. Drosera binata var. multifida is an especially attractive forked sundew. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Drosera binata var. multifida from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants

Nepenthes x ventrata, monkey cup

This hybrid tropical pitcher plant is one of the easiest to grow. Grow Nepenthes x ventrata in a warm, bright room in a hanging container, ideally where it can receive a few hours of direct sun a day. Keep the soil moist at all times and give it a regular misting. Tender.

• Buy Nepenthes x ventrata from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants

Sarracenia minor 'Okefenokee Giant', hooded pitcher plant

Hooded pitcher plants, Sarracenia minor, typically reach around 30cm in height, but the pitchers of 'Okefenokee Giant' can reach 80cm. The backs of the pitchers are covered in white spots and are thought to act as a a lure. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Sarracenia minor ‘Okefenokee Giant’ from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants

Dionaea muscipula, Venus flytrap

Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is one of the most frequently grown carnivorous plants – people can't get enough of their snapping leaves. Grow it in full sun in a warm, bright room and keep well watered with rainwater. Mist regularly to boost humidity. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Dionaea muscipula from Suttons

Sarracenia flava var. cuprea, coppery yellow pitcher plant

Sarracenia flava var. cuprea is an elegant pitcher plant that grows to around 80cm in height. The slender, green traps have red veining that becomes more conspicuous on the underside of the coppery-brown hoods that gave rise to its common name: the copper top pitcher plant. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Sarracenia flava var. cuprea from Hewitt-Cooper Carnivorous Plants

Cephalotus follicularis, Australian pitcher plant

The Australian pitcher plant (Cephalotus follicularis) is a tiny species with a big appetite. The 10cm-tall traps resemble open mouths with 24 bands of red ‘teeth’ and a heavily veined pale upper lip formed by the overarching hood. Tender.

• Buy Cephalotus follicularis from Thompson & Morgan

Sarracenia flava var. maxima, pitcher plant

Sarracenia flava var. maxima is a vigorous plant with lime-green, veinless pitchers that can reach 90cm in height. It makes a fantastic contrast to red sarracenias. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Sarracenia flava var. maxima from Hewitt-Cooper Carnivorous Plants

Drosera capensis, Cape sundew

Like Drosera binata var. multifida, the Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) has many strap-like leaves covered in sticky hairs that trap insect prey. Plants reach 15cm in height and produce pink flowers on green stems during the growing season. Frost hardy in mild or coastal areas.

• Buy Drosera capensis from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants