Drosera affinis is a subtropical sundew native to parts of eastern and southern Africa. It forms a compact rosette of narrow, upright leaves covered in stalked mucilaginous glands. These glands secrete a sticky fluid used to attract, trap, and digest small insects. Under strong lighting, the leaves often develop deep red pigmentation, especially in the glandular regions.
This species grows continuously under warm, well-lit conditions and does not require a dormancy period. It is well-suited to cultivation in standard carnivorous plant media, typically a mix of sphagnum peat and perlite or silica sand. Plants thrive with high humidity and consistent moisture, ideally using the tray watering method with low-mineral water such as rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water.
General Care:
•Light: Bright indirect sunlight or strong artificial light (12–16 hours daily)
•Water: Keep soil evenly moist at all times; avoid mineral-rich water
•Humidity: Moderate to high humidity preferred
•Temperature: Best grown in warm conditions; tolerant of mild fluctuations
•Feeding: Naturally captures small insects; can be supplemented with occasional dried food if grown indoors
Drosera affinis is a reliable and visually striking sundew for growers interested in African Drosera species or subtropical carnivorous plant cultivation.