Welcome to the OSU Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens – an outdoor laboratory for
teaching and research. Our mission is to provide an educational environment for all who visit.
Carnivorous Bog Garden
What’s a Bog?
Bogs are naturally occurring wet areas composed of slowly decaying sphagnum peat
moss and sand. Slow moving water is also present, which carries away vital plant
nutrients.
Why are Carnivorous plants Carnivorous?
Nearly ALL carnivorous plants are native to bogs. Because of the low nutrient levels, bogs are difficult
places for normal plant life to grow. Therefore, carnivorous plants evolved and adapted to supplement
their diets with insects that could provide them with needed nutrients. In short, being carnivorous is like
any other adaptation a plant species undergoes to survive; it just happens to be violently unorthodox.
The Venus Flytrap: Dionaea muscipula
You will probably be disappointed to learn that these specimens are about
as big as they get. It's adventurous to think that somewhere in the Amazon
rain-forest there's a variety that can swallow entire humans with one bite.
Unfortunately this isn’t true. Contrary to popular belief, Venus flytraps
aren't tropical; they are actually native to the United States, specifically a
small blob of land shared between North and South Carolina. This
translates to Venus flytraps being cold hardy in Ohio, meaning they not only
can survive through our cold winters but they actually need them for lifecycle purposes. That’s why if you've ever tried to grow a Venus flytrap as a
house plant it's probably died because it needs a cold dormant period. Venus flytraps lure insects by
secreting sweet nectar inside their mouths. As the insects move about, they bend two of the tiny trigger
hairs within the trap. The trap then snaps shut and the plant begins its feast.
The American Pitcher Plant: Sarracenia
Like the Venus flytrap, the American pitcher plant feasts on flies, gnats,
moths, beetles and other insects, but it does it in a more subtle way. Light
hits and travels through the “hood” covering the “pitcher” portion of the
plant and creates the illusion of a succulent, nectar-rich flower. When the
insect attempts to land on the pseudo flower, it falls into the “pitcher”
portion of the plant which is lined with slippery liquid, making any attempt to
escape futile. The insect eventually falls into the bottom of the pitcher,
where acids and enzymes slowly digest it. Some tenderhearted gardeners
have been known to rescue struggling yellow jackets that are being eaten
alive. Rescue missions become more intense when it comes to pitch plant’s
tropical species, which are large enough to devour small rodents.
The Sundews: Drosera
The sundews are closely related to Venus flytraps but are actually more
effective at catching prey. Sundews rely on an arsenal of stalk-like leaves.
Each leaf has dozens of tendrils with droplets of sweet smelling adhesive glue
on their tips. An insect lands on one of these tendrils and becomes stuck. The
other tendrils wrap around the insect, slowly sucking it dry of its precious
bodily fluids.
Thinking About Making Your Own Bog Garden?
Bog gardens can be created either in the ground, or in a container such as ours. The recommended
growing mix is half milled sphagnum peat which can be found in rectangular bales, and half silica(blasting)
sand. Beach or sandbox sand is deadly to bog plants due to its soluble salt content. Gardeners should only
use rain water when watering their personal bogs, as tap water contains minerals and chemicals that are
harmful to most bog plants.
Bog garden containers should be a minimum of 12” in depth. They also are unlikely to survive an Ohio
winter, so should be stored in a location around 35 – 40 degrees during the winter. A garage or sun porch
can meet these needs. Properly constructed bog gardens placed in the ground should be fully winter
hardy.
Species/varieties presented
Dionaea muscipula: Common Venus Flytrap
Sarracenia leucophylla ‘Georgia Giant': White Hooded American Pitcher Plant
Sarracenia leucophylla ex. Excambia County, FL: White Hooded American Pitcher Plant
Sarracenia leucophylla ex. Liberty County FL: American Pitcher Plant (golden pitcher plant)
Sarracenia Xmitchelliana: American Pitcher Plant Hybrid
Drosera filiformis: Threadleaf Sundew
Drosera rotundifolia: Common Sundew
Aletris farinosa: Colicroot, Colicweed, Crow Corn, Unicorn Root (non-carnivorous bog plant)
It should be emphasized that all of the plants in this bog garden are native US species. Intrinsic and
horticultural value aside, ecologically these are keystone species and symbols of modern conservation and
restoration efforts.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?: Check out Peter D'amoto's book "The Savage Garden: Cultivating carnivorous
plants" or contact me at [email protected]
Special thanks to Peter Zale, a PhD student at OSU, for giving Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens the
specimens you see before you. Make sure to check out his blog at www.botanicazales.com
Images provided by: “The Savage Garden: Cultivating carnivorous plants” by Peter D’amato and “A Textbook of
Botany for Colleges and Universities” by John Merle, Charles Barnes and Henry Cowles.
Authored and prepared by:
Tanner Douglas Cole, Student Research Assistant
Oversight by:
Kathy Burkholder, Learning Gardens Horticulturist
OSU CHADWICK ARBORETUM & LEARNING GARDENS