Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Paradox Sundew (Drosera paradoxa)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Paradox sundew.

More about paradox sundew

About Paradox Sundew

Drosera paradoxa · also called Paradox sundew · tropical

Drosera paradoxa is a member of the petiolaris complex of tropical Australian sundews, found on seasonally wet sandstone plateaus and floodplains of the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is a deciduous, warm-temperate species that requires a pronounced hot, wet growing season and a cooler, drier dormancy — replicating the Australian monsoon cycle. The single most critical care fact is that it must be kept warm even in its dry rest period (minimum 18 °C / 64 °F); frost or cold damp conditions will kill it rapidly. Drosera is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA and is considered non-toxic to pets.

Cold limit: USDA 10-12 (indoor in most climates) · RHS H1b (18–38 °C (growing season); 18–25 °C (rest))

Watch for — Failure to re-sprout after dormancy: If kept too cold or too wet during dormancy the rhizome rots. Ensure temperatures stay above 18 °C and the soil is only barely moist — not waterlogged — through the rest period.

What paradox sundew's hardiness rating actually means

Paradox Sundew is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Its RHS rating of H1b means: Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10-12 (indoor in most climates) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 10 °C (sustained cold below this is damaging). Paradox Sundew has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for paradox sundew as it gets too cold:

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches.
A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover.
Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.

Can paradox sundew go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually.
Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C.
It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when paradox sundew can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1b figure above.

Paradox Sundew hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is paradox sundew cold hardy?

Paradox Sundew is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Indoor-only in almost every home. Paradox Sundew can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 10-12 (indoor in most climates)); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature paradox sundew can survive?

What hardiness zone is paradox sundew?

Paradox Sundew is rated USDA 10-12 (indoor in most climates) and RHS H1b — Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season.

Can paradox sundew survive winter outside?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually. Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C. It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

What happens to paradox sundew below its minimum temperature?

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches. A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover. Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.