Mike King, from Telford, with his Sarrecenias

Hungry fly-eating plants grown in a Shropshire back garden have proved such a hit with international buyers they are helping a county man sail through the recession.

Mike King, from Malinslee, Telford, grows a selection of weird and wonderful “Triffid-like” plants for his firm Shropshire Sarracenias. And Mr King says business is “blooming” amid the economic slump because cash-strapped consumers still set aside enough funds to pursue their hobbies.

The AFC Telford United fanatic who also has a day job, said a steady stream of orders from collectors in Japan, Europe, New Zealand and the USA had helped his company go from strength to strength despite grim forecasts for the business when the recession began.

“Because of the credit crunch I was expecting turnover to plummet,” said Mr King.

“But sales are actually up about 90 per cent because carnivorous plants are becoming more popular and appeal to people of all ages. “They’re also affordable and I suppose they can save people money on chemical fly sprays.

“A couple of sarracenias will take care of flies in the home and people’s hobbies are the last things to suffer when they’re on a budget.”

He added that his biggest sellers are sarracenias, which he cultivates thousands of in his Telford greenhouses. The brightly-

coloured plants attract flies with their narcotic-laced nectar before trapping them inside its long funnelled petals.

Mr King also cultivates venus fly traps, which slam shut on their prey before slowly devouring them as a source of nutrition.

He added both plants were keenly studied by Shrewsbury naturalist Charles Darwin whose experiments helped to prove they were indeed carnivorous.

Mr King said he is due to give lectures on carnivorous plants in the show’s lecture marquee at 1pm both days.

Elsewhere, P&J Plants from Hereford, were exhibiting their own collection of plants with an appetite.

Boss Paul Gardner said he had devoted half an acre of his back garden to growing sarracenias, venus fly traps and also sundews, which grow naturally in places like Whixall Moss, near Whitchurch.

By Tom Johannsen