In nature, D. burmanni is an annual, but in cultivation, when grown indoors during the cold months, it can live for many years.

[5] Drosera burmanni is an herb that produces very short stems and leaves in a rosette.

White flowers are produced in groups of 3 to 10 on 6–15 cm (2–6 in) tall racemose inflorescences, of which there can be one to three per plant.

The species epithet is frequently modified to burmannii, however because it was derived from the Latinised form 'Burmannus' the original spelling is correct.

[8] In 1871 Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach described a new species, D. dietrichiana, named after its discoverer Amalie Dietrich.