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Butterwort Pinguicula

Previously known as:

  • Pinguicula vulgaris var. americana
Phonetic Spelling
pin-GWIK-yoo-lah
Description

A carnivorous plant with greasy leaves that curl slowly into a cup when an insect is trapped and digested by enzymes.  Its primary food is gnats.  The insects serve as nutrients for the plant, as its root system merely acts as an anchor for the plant, providing no nutrition. Butterwort can be found growing in sunny, open, wet locations throughout the southeastern US.  They do well in nutrient-poor soil.

Grow in full sun to partial shade in consistently moist soil.  Use a planting mix of whole fiber sphagnum moss or a mix of equal parts peat moss and coarse vermiculite or sharp sand.  A dormancy period is necessary to regrow and bloom each spring.  Cut back dead leaves in the winter or early spring to encourage new growth.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Superba'
'Superba'
Tags:
#houseplant#carnivorous#herbaceous#NC native#long-lasting flowers#native garden#NC Native Pollinator Plant#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Superba'
'Superba'
Tags:
#houseplant#carnivorous#herbaceous#NC native#long-lasting flowers#native garden#NC Native Pollinator Plant#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pinguicula
    Family:
    Lentibulariaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Carnivorous
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Funnel
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Solitary flowers above the leaves on a long slender stalk
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    Yellow-green or purplish leaves in a basal rosette; minute glands cover the upper leaf surface; leaves curl slowly into a cup when an insect is trapped.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Native Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting