Where to Buy or Trade Sundews
Many growers ask me where they can purchase sundews or seeds. Unfortnately, I won't have time to sell or trade plants for the next 3 years. But I still want to help you out in your search! Below is a list of sites I've either traded at, purhcased from, or am familiar with. Hopefully this list will cover most of your sundew-acquiring needs:
Trading Sundews
It suprises many growers that there are forums online where you can trade sundews (and seeds) with people across the country! These sites are full of people who are very active traders. This is a great way to expand your collection on a tight budget (especially if you have good propgation skills)! I obtained most of my sundews by trading people on the following sites:
www.terraforums.com - Only trades allowed
Terraforums
is a great online community with a very active trading section. There
are occasionally seed and plant giveaways throughout the year (but
never ask for free stuff or you will be scolded ;)). No sales are
allowed on this site, which the only downside (but sales can be
arranged via privagte messages on the site).
www.cpukforum.com- Sales and trades are allowed
Sales
are more common on cpukforum than trades, but a lot of trading does go
on via personal messages. Simply post an offer for the plant
you're looking for. Note: You need to register before you can gain access to the trade/sales page.
www.flytrapcare.com- Sales and trades allowed
Yet
another option... The link I provided is to the U.S. page, but
the site also offers forums for other countries, as well (as with
all the other forums)
Also, these forums allow you to network with other growers. Occasionally, there may be a carnivorous plant gathering near you, where growers come together to exchange plants and growing techniques. LACPS, BACPS, and OHCPS.
Buying Sundews
I will break down the most popular sites, as well as my favorite vendors, which are up to date as of August 2012:
Note #1: With all sites, unless specified, you should assume that temperate plants will be in a dormant hibernacula bud, or with few leaves.] I'd recommend purchasing them in the spring.
Note #2: You will likely not be able to find every sundew you're looking for on the sites below. For everything else you can't find, you'll either have to trade or buy from the forums above or acquire permits to trade and buy overseas [i.e. from bestcarnivorousplants.net].
Disclaimer: I have only purchased from a few of these sites, so most of my judgements are based on the price or age/size of plants sold.
And finally, before I start, I first want to recommend calling your local Lowes, Home Depot, or Wal-Mart if they carry carnivorous plants. They frequently do!
www.flytraps.com (Cook's Carnivores)
Pros: Very affordable prices, wide selection of species.
Cons: Slightly lower quality, but well worth the lower price! You can find their sales on ebay, as well. Seeds are occasionally sold here, as well.
Cons: Slightly lower quality, but well worth the lower price! You can find their sales on ebay, as well. Seeds are occasionally sold here, as well.
www.crystalscarnivores.com
Crystal
is a long time trading partner of mine and a good friend. She offers
plants that are somewhat more difficult to find at a very reasonable
price. Plants are not usually full-size, which saves you money! Seeds and plants can both be found here.
www.californiacarnivores.com
Pros: Mature,
well-established sundews that arrive in great shape after shipment.
They offer sundews that are easy to moderately difficult to find.
Cons: Quite expensive, but if you have enough money, go for it! :)
Cons: Quite expensive, but if you have enough money, go for it! :)
www.carnivorousplantnursery.com
Pros: Among the best selection of rare sundews on the net!
Cons: Among the highest prices for sundews on the net. Often out of stock
Cons: Among the highest prices for sundews on the net. Often out of stock
www.pitcherplant.org (Meadowiew)
Pros: Excellent prices for common to moderately uncommon sundews
Cons: Limited selection is available, rarer species may be unaffordable.
Cons: Limited selection is available, rarer species may be unaffordable.
www. cobraplant.com (Sarracenia Northwest)
Pros: Decent selection of tropical species, established, mature plants
Cons: Relatively expensive compared to Cook's.
Cons: Relatively expensive compared to Cook's.
www.cascadecarnivores.com
Pros: Quite a nice variety of mature plants at reasonable prices
Cons: Out of stock of rarer varieties most of the year, and moderately expensive for the rarer varieties
Cons: Out of stock of rarer varieties most of the year, and moderately expensive for the rarer varieties
www. flytrapshop.com
Pros: Very reasonable prices when in stock
Cons: Extremely small selection of plants
Cons: Extremely small selection of plants
www.flytrapstore.com
Pros: Decent variety of rarer sundews
Cons: Some of the varieties can be quite expensive or are out of stock
Cons: Some of the varieties can be quite expensive or are out of stock
ebay.com
Pros:
Occasionally you can find rarer sundew species offered, from reliable
vendors. Generally speaking, you should not have any problems.
Cons: It is hard to know exactly how reliable the sellers are. Be sure to ask whether the pictures are of the actual plant being sold if there is any discrepancy, and it's always helpful to check that the plants weren't poached if you have any suspicions.
Cons: It is hard to know exactly how reliable the sellers are. Be sure to ask whether the pictures are of the actual plant being sold if there is any discrepancy, and it's always helpful to check that the plants weren't poached if you have any suspicions.
Seed Sales and Trades
While seeds can be a bit difficult to find online, I will try to make your search a bit easier!
Seed Sales
In addition to the list below, refer to the above list for vendors that carry seeds.
ebay.com
You
can find a range of excellent deals to horrific prices when it comes to
buying seeds on ebay. I made my first seed purchases from miacps
on ebay before (my first seed purhases). He offers very fresh, viable
seeds of D. filiformis "Florida All-Red", D. intermedia 'Cuba', D.
burmannii (Beerwah) and others, usually at reasonable prices.
www.triffidnurseries.co.uk
Pros: Possibly the best variety of seeds I've come across online, at the most reasonable prices I've ever seen.
Cons: Some seeds are inviable or mis-labeled. The seeds also are sold from the United Kingdom in Europe, so it is technically illegal. I did not have any problems with both of my orders (although there is risk involved, since the contents are clearly written on the outside of the package).
www.cpukforum.comCons: Some seeds are inviable or mis-labeled. The seeds also are sold from the United Kingdom in Europe, so it is technically illegal. I did not have any problems with both of my orders (although there is risk involved, since the contents are clearly written on the outside of the package).
Refer here for more info
Seed Trades or Giveaways:
These sites are reviewed above:
www.terraforums.com
www.cpukforum.com
www.flytrapcare.com
Additional Questions or Suggestions?
Please direct questions to the forums listed directly above.
For suggestions or comments, contact me at: sundewman(at)yahoo.com