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Pinguicula vulgaris

common butterwort

Lentibulariaceae

Northern hemisphere (Europe, Asia, North America)

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 3–7

Overview

Pinguicula vulgaris is a small carnivorous perennial in the family Lentibulariaceae, forming a flat, ground-hugging rosette 1.2-6 inches (3-15 cm) across. The five to eight oblong, yellow-green leaves have inrolled edges and a greasy, sticky upper surface that traps small insects; glands then digest the prey and absorb nutrients, supplementing the poor soils where it grows. From May to July one to several leafless stalks 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall each carry a single violet to purple flower 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, two-lipped with a white throat and a backward-pointing spur. In autumn the rosette dies back to a compact winter resting bud that sits at the surface and produces detachable bulb-like offsets. The species grows in bogs, fens, wet heath, flushes, and on dripping rocks across northern and montane Europe, Asia, and North America, on permanently wet, nutrient-poor, often base-rich ground. It needs constant moisture, low fertility, and open conditions, and is quickly lost where richer plants close over or the ground dries out, which makes it hard to keep in cultivation.

Native Range

Native across the cooler parts of the northern hemisphere, including northern and mountainous Europe, northern Asia, and North America. It grows in bogs, fens, wet heaths, mountain flushes, and on wet, dripping rocks, on permanently moist, low-nutrient soils that are often base-rich.

Suggested Uses

Grown in bog gardens, peat beds, and carnivorous-plant collections, and in shallow trays kept permanently wet with rainwater. Its sticky rosettes are sometimes used to catch fungus gnats and other small flying insects near plantings. It suits cool, wet, sunny corners rather than ordinary borders.

How to Identify

A flat rosette of oblong, yellow-green leaves with inrolled margins and a greasy, sticky surface that catches small insects, unlike any ordinary bog plant. Single violet, two-lipped flowers with a slender backward spur are held above the leaves on leafless stalks in early summer. The sticky, butter-like leaf surface and the spurred violet flowers together identify it; smaller butterworts such as Pinguicula lusitanica have pale lilac flowers and a more delicate rosette.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"

Width/Spread1" - 6"

Colors

Flower Colors

purple

Foliage Colors

yellow green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering runs from May to July, each stalk bearing one violet to purple flower with a white-marked throat and a tapering spur. The flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects drawn to the spur nectar. After flowering, papery seed capsules split to release many tiny seeds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

violet to purple

Foliage Description

yellow-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

peat

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Pinguicula vulgaris grows in full sun to light shade on permanently wet, low-nutrient ground such as bog gardens, peat beds, and the margins of acidic to slightly limy pools. It is watered only with rain or other mineral-free water, since tap water and fertiliser quickly kill it, and is grown in a lean mix of peat substitute and sand kept constantly damp. The sticky leaves catch their own insect food, so feeding is unnecessary and harmful. In autumn the plant shrinks to a winter resting bud that survives cold but rots in stagnant, overly rich conditions; small offset buds around it can be detached to make new plants. It needs open, uncrowded surroundings and is overtaken where mosses or larger plants grow over the rosette. Cool, bright, humid sites suit it.