VU

Dionaea muscipula

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Venus flytrap faces severe habitat loss due to residential and commercial development within its extremely limited native range in the coastal plains of North and South Carolina. Poaching for the horticultural trade has significantly reduced wild populations, with thousands of plants illegally harvested annually despite legal protections. Fire suppression has altered the natural fire regime essential for maintaining the open, nutrient-poor wetland habitats where the species thrives. Climate change and sea level rise threaten the low-lying coastal bog ecosystems that represent the entirety of its natural habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

Venus flytraps are endemic to nutrient-poor, acidic wetlands including longleaf pine savannas, pocosins, and bog margins within a 100-mile radius of Wilmington, North Carolina. These specialized carnivorous plants require consistently moist, sandy or peaty soils with high acidity and depend on periodic fires to maintain the open canopy conditions necessary for their survival.

Conservation measures underway

Legislation

Other threatened species in DROSERACEAE

VU

Drosera nivea

Stable
EN

Drosera dichrosepala

Stable
VU

Drosera orbiculata

Unknown
EN

Drosera patens

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dionaea muscipula classified as Vulnerable?
Dionaea muscipula is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Venus flytrap faces severe habitat loss due to residential and commercial development within its extremely limited native range in the coastal plains of North and South Carolina. Poaching for the horticultural trade has significantly reduced wild populations, with thousands of plants illegally harvested annually despite legal protections. Fire suppression has altered the natural fire regime essential for maintaining the open, nutrient-poor wetland habitats where the species thrives. Climate change and sea level rise threaten the low-lying coastal bog ecosystems that represent the entirety of its natural habitat.
Where does Dionaea muscipula live?
Dionaea muscipula occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dionaea muscipula?
The main threats to Dionaea muscipula are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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