Florida’’s Carnivorous Plants

Learn about Florida’s endemic carnivorous plants in this exciting book written for the budding naturalist and hobbyist. Florida has dozens of native species of carnivorous plants--more than any other state in the United States--including sundews, butterworts, bladderworts, and pitcher plants. These plants use appealing scents, leaves, and sticky fluids to trap and imprison insects. Digestive fluids then absorb the prey giving the plant its nutrients. Many of these plants can be grown at home in the backyard, in rain gardens, or in some cases on the windowsill.

Florida’s Carnivorous Plants provides an identification and growing guide for the major genera of carnivorous plants found in Florida. Each species description includes etymology, a history of the plant’s discovery highlighting diverse scientists, anatomy, habitat range, and popular cultivars for beginners. Tables include soil requirements, types of potting, water level, amount of light, dormancy and temperature requirements, and propagation tips. A glossary provides readers with the tools to learn botanical jargon to improve their identification skills.

Kenny Coogan is the Education Director of the International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS), which has 20,000 fans on Facebook and more than 1,000 paying members globally. His experience with carnivorous plants started ten years ago when he cofounded the Western New York Carnivorous Plant club. He moved to Florida seven years ago and became a certified middle school science and agriculture teacher. He was awarded the Best Beginning Science Teacher for the state of Florida during his first year. He has published over 400 articles on pets, livestock, and gardening for publications including Countryside, Hobby Farms, Chickens, Backyard Poultry, and Florida Gardening magazines, and he is still an active columnist for these publications.