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Purple Bladderwort Utricularia purpurea

Phonetic Spelling
yoo-trik-u-LAR-ee-uh pur-PUR-ee-uh
Description

Purple Bladderwort is a short-lived carnivorous perennial native to wet sites, ponds, ditches, and slow-moving water in eastern Canada and the U.S.A. and the coastal areas of NC.

Purple Bladderwort is a submersed aquatic plant that is rootless and free-floating. The stems can be up to 3 feet long with floating leaves produced in whorls of five to seven. The leaves are branched into numerous slender segments and appear lacy. The bladders are small and roughly spherical and are attached at the tips of the leaf segments. The flowers are purple or lavender 1/3 to 1/2 inch long and are on stalks that emerge several inches above the water.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#carnivorous#native perennial#nectar plant#NC native#ditches#food source summer#food source fall#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#fly friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#moth friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#carnivorous#native perennial#nectar plant#NC native#ditches#food source summer#food source fall#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#fly friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#moth friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Utricularia
    Species:
    purpurea
    Family:
    Lentibulariaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Canada, central and eastern U.S.A.
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant attracts birds, flies, butterflies, and moths.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heat tolerant.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Carnivorous
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Water Plant
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit displays from July to October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Racemes of 1-5 snapdragon-like purple flowers atop naked reddish stems from May to September. 1/3 to ½ inch long, the lower lip is 3-lobed, white at the base with a spot of yellow in the center. The upper lobe is as wide but shorter. A curved spur is present below the lower lip that is yellowish to white.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves occur in whorls of 5 to 7 with bladders at the tips of leaves. They are branched into slender segments giving it a lacy look. Greenish to brown in color.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The stems are submerged and can grow 3 feet long
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Songbirds