Often called rainbow plants, Byblis are delicate carnivorous plants recognized for their slender foliage and glistening droplets of mucilage that coat each leaf. Under bright light the plant appears almost dusted with dew, giving rise to the common name.

Though they resemble sundews at first glance, Byblis belong to a different botanical lineage and follow their own rhythm in cultivation. Most species grow quickly, produce a succession of soft violet flowers, and complete their life cycle within a single growing season.

In habitat these plants occupy open, nutrient-poor soils in Australia where seasonal rains allow them to germinate, grow, and set seed before conditions become harsher. This natural cycle explains their rapid development and dependable flowering when grown under warm, bright conditions.