Flower profile

Venus flytrap

Dionaea muscipula

Native to North Carolina

Venus flytrap is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In North Carolina it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

4states

2,672NC sightings*

3,310U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: North Carolina

Quick look

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant native to the temperate and subtropical wetlands of North Carolina and South Carolina, on the East Coast of the United States. Although various modern hybrids have been created in cultivation, D. muscipula is the only species of the monotypic genus Dionaea.
From Wikipedia's article Venus flytrap, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Droseraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to North Carolina. ^NatureServe
In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,672 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #62 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. ^iNaturalist

Venus flytrap gift ideas

Handmade venus flytrap gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In North Carolina, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in North Carolina (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (199 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Resolved Taxon,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G2 Imperiled worldwide. ^NatureServe
North Carolina: State threatened On North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301): state threatened. NatureServe: S2, imperiled in North Carolina. ^{02 NCAC 48F .0301}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: SC (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on North Carolina's rare plant list (state threatened); NatureServe ranks it S2 in North Carolina. ^{02 NCAC 48F .0301 NatureServe}

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Venus Fly Trap” (Dionaea muscipula) lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records venus flytrap in 4 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Robeson, Sampson.

More North Carolina flowers

Crane-fly orchid

Tipularia discolor

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🌼 Blooms in NC: July–August

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

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🌼 Blooms in NC: June–September

Striped wintergreen

Chimaphila maculata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NC: May–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile DIMU4.
iNaturalist, Dionaea muscipula: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Venus flytrap (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Dionaea muscipula (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Kathryn Curtis via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.