A Summer Morning with Venus Flytraps: Visiting Valerio Guidolin’s Diflora Nursery

It was the middle of July, and I was on the road before sunrise, leaving Ovada at 6 a.m. for a long-anticipated return visit. My destination was nestled between Verona and Venice: Diflora, the renowned Venus Flytrap and Carnivorous Plant Nursery founded and operated by Valerio Guidolin.

Old Friends

A Return Visit, Years in the Making

Valerio and I go back a few years. We first met in Prague in 2019, brought together by the EEE meetup and our shared obsession with carnivorous plants. I had the chance to visit his nursery for the first time in September of 2022, and I’ve been looking forward to coming back ever since. Diflora (diflora.it) isn’t just any nursery, it’s one of the largest Venus flytrap nurseries in the world, and Valerio has built something truly special here.

This time, when I arrived, I was welcomed by Valerio and also joined by Andrea Vairani, another big flytrap enthusiast. We spent the entire morning completely absorbed in conversation about Dionaea, trading stories, sharing growing tips, and marveling at the endless diversity of this remarkable species.

From left to right: Jeremiah, Valerio and Andrea

The Lab

Inside the Tissue Culture Lab

Valerio gave us a full tour of the nursery, including a behind-the-scenes look at his tissue culture lab. This space is the heartbeat of Diflora, where new plants are cloned and cultivated under sterile, high-tech conditions. Rows of jars glowed under LED lighting, each holding delicate young plants, some just beginning to reveal their unique traits.

Two of Valerio’s cultivars have made a particularly big impression in the carnivorous plant world: D. Fiamma and D. Carboni Ardenti. D. Fiamma, with its vivid red coloration and wispy teeth, has become a collector favorite. D. Carboni Ardenti, named for its smoldering, ember-like traps, is equally striking. Seeing them both up close, thriving in perfect condition, was worth the trip alone.

We also had the privilege of previewing several newly released cultivars, each with distinct features that continue to push the boundaries of what flytraps can be.