Buying guide

Buy a Venus Flytrap Online: Sizes, What to Check, and Where to Buy

By the Plantshop.com Editorial Team · Updated 21 Oct 2026 · How we research · Report an error

Quick verdict

• Buy it if you can give it full sun: 4+ hours of direct light.
• Difficulty: Challenging · Pets: Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)
• Size to buy: A small pot is the usual buy; its size at maturity is Rosette 6-8 in across; flower stalks to about 12 in.
• Where to buy: No shop listing confirmed yet; see the top-rated carnivorous plants shops below, or search Amazon.

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant from the Carolinas that catches insects with snapping traps. It is not a typical houseplant: it needs strong sun and mineral-free water, and benefits from a cool winter rest (dormancy), which plants kept under strong grow lights can skip.

Is a venus flytrap right for you?

It suits you if you can give it full sun: 4+ hours of direct light and you are happy to water keep wet with rainwater or distilled water only; stand in a tray. Difficulty: Challenging. It is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA, so it is a good choice for pet homes. Not sure? Try the Plant Finder.

Similar plants to consider: Calathea, Moth Orchid, Spider Plant, Parlor Palm.

Size and age buying guide

Younger or older plant? A younger, smaller plant costs less and settles in easily; an older, larger plant gives you the look straight away but costs more to buy and ship. With a slow growth rate and a mature size of Rosette 6-8 in across; flower stalks to about 12 in, buy close to the size you want.

Sizes and what you will receive

Online shops sell plants by nursery pot diameter: about 4 in (small, shelf), 6 in (desk or table), 8-10 in (small floor plant) and 12 in and up (floor statement). Height varies a lot within one pot size, so read the listed height too. A mature venus flytrap can reach Rosette 6-8 in across; flower stalks to about 12 in and growth is slow, so a smaller plant will take time to fill out; buy closer to the size you want.

What to check when buying: a healthy venus flytrap

• Firm, evenly colored leaves with no mushy stems at the soil line.
• Soil that is not sour-smelling or waterlogged when it arrives.
• No webbing, sticky residue or tiny moving insects under the leaves.
• Roots, if you peek, that are pale and firm rather than brown and soft.

Problems to know about before buying:

• Black traps: Normal after a few closures, or from tap water or low light.
• Weak, floppy growth: Not enough sun.
• Decline after a year: Often no winter rest; give it a cool dormancy (about 35-50°F) or strong year-round grow lights.

What to check on arrival

1. Photograph the box and the plant before and while you unpack; most guarantees ask for photos.
2. Leaves and stems: firm, evenly colored leaves; no snapped stems or mushy tissue at the soil line.
3. Soil: not sour-smelling or waterlogged.
4. Pests: no webbing, sticky residue or tiny moving insects under the leaves.
5. Size: compare the pot size and height with the listing you ordered.
6. Report problems quickly under the shop’s guarantee.

Problems that often show up after delivery:

• Black traps: Normal after a few closures, or from tap water or low light.
• Weak, floppy growth: Not enough sun.
• Decline after a year: Often no winter rest; give it a cool dormancy (about 35-50°F) or strong year-round grow lights.

Prices

We do not quote prices until we have checked them. They change with pot size, season and sales. To compare fairly, compare the same pot size and check whether a decorative pot and shipping are included.

Shipping and seasonal risks

A freeze in a cold delivery truck can damage it. In winter, order from a shop that adds heat packs or holds shipments in freezing weather, and bring the box inside as soon as it arrives. Summer heat in a delivery truck can also damage plants, so avoid long weekends in transit.

Your first week after delivery

1. Unbox right away and photograph any damage; most guarantees need photos within a set window.
2. Water only if the soil is dry; many plants arrive already moist.
3. Give it full sun: 4+ hours of direct light, but avoid harsh direct sun for a few days.
4. Keep it away from other plants for one to two weeks in case of pests.
5. Wait two to four weeks before repotting. Full care guide: Venus Flytrap care.

Where to buy a venus flytrap online, and why

Comparing shops in general? See the best places to buy plants online. No shop listing confirmed yet, so the shops below are labeled as not confirmed. Stock changes daily. We may earn a commission from some links; it never decides what we list. Disclosure.

Honest note: we have not yet confirmed a shop listing for a venus flytrap. The shops below sell carnivorous plants and rank highest in our shop ranking; search their site for it, as stock changes often. We will list shops here once we have checked an actual listing.

Compare shipping and guarantee terms side by side in Online plant shop policies compared.

More: Venus Flytrap care guide · Best online plant shops, ranked · Free plant care calendar