Bladderwort Utricularia
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-trik-u-LAR-ee-uh
- Description
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Bladderworts are widely spread throughout the world and there are over 200 species. They are the largest genus of carnivorous plants and are unlike any other due to their unique bladder system. Bladderworts trap small organisms in their tiny bladders which have a trap door that is triggered by hairs on the door. When prey comes in contact with the hairs the door opens in a millisecond, sucking the animal in, and closing in about 2.5 milliseconds. The primary food is water flies and mosquito larvae.
The aquatic species are completely submerged in water except for the stem and blooms and may anchor themselves or float freely. Other varieties grow in very wet soil or are epiphytic and are usually tropical. None of them have true roots and prefer growing in still, shallow acidic water with low nutrient value. Some species can be invasive.
Tropical bladderworts can be grown successfully in containers as houseplants. They can be either perennials or annuals.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Utricularia
- Family:
- Lentibulariaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America and most places in the world
- Distribution:
- Every state
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides a place for swamp critters to lay their eggs and shelter for animals like turtles, salamanders, and bullfrogs.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Carnivorous
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- NC Region:
- Coastal
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small flowers with 2 asymmetrical petals in pink, purple, white or yellow appear in spring and summer and are held above the water on 1-5 inch stems. They range in size from 2 mm to 10 cm wide. The epiphytic species of South America have the showiest flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Modified stems and leaves act as anchors and storage. Bladders trap small water insects. Leaves are a star-shaped mat with delicate, threadlike stems. Terrestrial species sometimes produce a few photosynthetic leaf-shoots.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Most species form long, thin, sometimes branching stems or stolons beneath the surface of the substrate whether it be water or soil.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Problems:
- Weedy
