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Butterwort

Butterwort

Pinguicula spp.

Basic Information

🌿 Family: Lentibulariaceae

🗺️ Zone: 7-10

Other Names:

  • Pinguicula

🌡️ Ideal Temperature : 50°F – 80°F

🔥 Heat Tolerance: Up to 95°F

❄️ Cold Tolerance: Down to 20°F

🌱 Type: Perennial

Layers

  • Ground Cover

Functions

  • Pest Management
  • Ground Cover

Pests

Companions

Plants to Avoid

  • Plants requiring high nutrient soils

Description

Butterworts are carnivorous plants with rosettes of succulent, glandular leaves that excrete a sticky fluid to trap insects. They are typically found in moist, acidic environments such as bogs and fens. Butterworts produce attractive, funnel-shaped flowers that can be white, pink, or purple. They require partial shade to full sun and consistently moist, well-draining soil to thrive.

✂️🫘 Methods to Propagate:
- Seed: Sow seeds on the surface of a moist peat and sand mix; do not cover, as they require light to germinate. Maintain high humidity and temperatures between 60-75°F (16-24°C). Germination may take several weeks.
- Leaf Pullings: Gently pull a leaf from the base and place it on moist sphagnum moss; new plantlets may form at the base of the leaf.

🌞💧 Sun and Water Requirements:
- Sun: Partial shade to full sun; avoid intense midday sun, especially in hotter climates.
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist using distilled or rainwater; avoid tap water due to mineral sensitivity. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.

🧑‍🌾👩‍🌾 When to Harvest:
- Butterworts are primarily cultivated for ornamental purposes and natural pest control rather than harvest.

Purpose

- Pest Management: Effective in controlling small insect populations, such as gnats and fruit flies, due to their carnivorous nature.
- Ground Cover: Provides a unique and attractive ground cover in suitable moist gardens or terrariums.