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Humped Bladderwort Utricularia gibba

Phonetic Spelling
yoo-trik-u-LAR-ee-uh GIB-buh
Description

Floating Bladderwort is a carnivorous plant found in NC and all other continents in the world besides Antarctica. It forms mats of crisscrossing, branching, thread-like stolons each growing to approximately 8-10 inches long. They can be free-floating or loosely rooted in the substrate of shallow water. The traps among the leaf-like structures are for capturing tiny water creatures.

The small two-lipped flowers are generally held above the water and can occur anytime during the growing season. Plants that are rooted in the substrate generally bloom more. It generally prefers shallow and slow-moving waters in full to partial sun. They can be grown in a container or bog garden. This plant can become weedy.

Habitat: Ponds, lakes, bogs, marshes and ditches

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#water garden#yellow flowers#native perennials#NC native#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#native carnivorus plant#Audubon#container plant#aquatic#weed#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#water garden#yellow flowers#native perennials#NC native#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#native carnivorus plant#Audubon#container plant#aquatic#weed#boggy sites
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Utricularia
    Species:
    gibba
    Family:
    Lentibulariaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Subtropical and Tropical Old World
    Wildlife Value:
    It provides food for aquatic waterfowl and habitat for small aquatic animals as frogs.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heat tolerant.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Carnivorous
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Water Plant
    Habit/Form:
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    High
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    The round capsule display from July to October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Yellow flowers often with reddish-brown nerves, and are split into two lips. The lower one has a humped area in the center. Flowers May to November.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Filiform
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Thin forked leaf-like structures 3/8 inch long
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are up to 10 inches long, either free-floating, submerged or creeping along the substrate and can create dense mats
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Frogs
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Weedy