Range: New South Wales and eastern Victoria, Australia, possibly northern Tasmania

 

Sometimes referred to as the Giant Staghorn sundew, this species (often classed as a variety of D. binata) is found in the southeastern portion of Australia in New South Wales and eastern Victoria, particularly in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, where it grows in seeps and swampy areas on open savannah or cliffside habitats. Plants can be among the largest of this complex, with leaves more than 120 cm in length and lamina over 50 cm across in some cases (though several smaller forms are known). Petioles are long and narrow, glabrous and parallel, while lamina are bifurcating to branching to between 2 and 16 points, each branch moderately thick and narrowing to a fine tip. Coloration is distinctly light green to golden and enhanced by the yellow to orange or very light red tentacles, or rarely to a more rich orange coloration overall. Inflorescences can be massive, more than 70 cm in height at times and branching once to several times, bearing up to 40 blooms and often holding multiple blooms open at a time. Flowers can be nearly 3 cm in diameter with broad ovular to oblong white petals. This species is distinguished from its closest relatives in the subgenus Phycopsis by the broader lamina and distinct golden-green coloration typically presented, as well as often being the largest overall form contended only by the largest variations of D. multifida.

 

Cultivation: Grows best in a moist but moderately aerated soil, such as a 2:1 perlite/peat mix, kept warm through most or even all of the year; most forms will enter dormancy and die back to the roots or develop dormant buds if exposed to cold temperatures, but will resume growth as soon as temperatures exceed around 35°F. Sow seeds on the soil surface (some southern or high-elevation locales may need a cold stratification period) and grow in extremely strong artificial light or best in full sun.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: perennial. Reproduces through seed, division, or budding of roots, and can be propagated through root and leaf cuttings.

 

Sources: Carnivorous Plants of Australia Magnum Opus (Allen Lowrie)