Sticky Sundew Colouring Page

This sparkling little hunter is the round-leaved sundew, Drosera rotundifolia. It is one of the most widespread sundews, native across much of the temperate and subarctic Northern Hemisphere, including countries in Europe and Asia as well as Canada and the United States. Kew also records native populations farther south in parts of the Philippines and western New Guinea. Look for it close to the ground in sunny bogs, fens and wet peatlands. These habitats have plenty of water but very little usable nitrogen, so catching tiny animals helps the plant gather minerals. The leaves form a low rosette, and each round blade carries many red or green tentacles. A shiny blob of sticky mucilage sits on every tentacle tip. The drops look like harmless morning dew, which explains the name sundew, but they work like gentle plant glue. When a mosquito or gnat lands, it becomes stuck. Its movement triggers nearby tentacles to bend towards it, placing more sticky drops against the prey. The leaf may slowly curl inward too. Digestive enzymes soften the insect's usable parts, and glands on the leaf absorb the released nutrients. This motion takes far longer than the quick snap of a Venus flytrap, so the page shows two stages at once. Drosera rotundifolia often grows only a few centimetres across. It sends a slender flower stalk above the sticky leaves so visiting pollinators are less likely to meet the traps. Small white flowers open on the stalk. Sundews make their own sugars using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide; insects are a mineral supplement. The plant is harmless to people. Protect its wetland home by staying on paths and never collecting a wild rosette. Colour the leaves apple green, bronze or glowing red. Try red, pink or orange tentacles, then leave a tiny white spot inside each pale blue, silver or golden droplet so it appears to sparkle. The mosquito and gnat can be soft grey, brown or blue. Use rich moss greens around the rosette, with tan stones and a hint of dark peat. Colour from the leaf centre outward in curved strokes, and use a light touch around the delicate tentacles so every droplet stays clear.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

Download JPEGHigh-resolution A4 image Download PDFPrint-ready A4 file

Make it an activity

Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
Display the finished artwork

Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.