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Utricularia vulgaris - Greater Bladderwort

Utricularia vulgaris
Greater Bladderwort

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More information

An aquatic plant, both oxygenating and carnivorous, bringing a functional touch to aquatic spaces! Living without roots, it floats or is partially submerged, evolving in calm waters. Its fairly discreet green foliage is equipped with utricles that capture mosquito larvae and other aquatic insects. From June to August, it offers a spectacular flowering emerging above the water in the form of a stem, bearing five to eight flowers of a bright yellow, adorned with a throat in shades of orange. Thanks to its excellent purifying abilities, its presence keeps the water clear by eliminating algae.
Flower size
2 cm
Height at maturity
15 cm
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
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Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to September
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Flowering time June to August
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Description

The Urtricularia Vulgaris, also known as the Common Bladderwort, is a perennial aquatic plant that lives between two glasses of water without attaching itself. It grows relatively slowly and is not very invasive. It prefers an immersion of 20 to 40 cm but can survive at greater depths. It is an excellent choice for natural ponds with fresh and acidic water. It is a bio-indicator sentinel plant; its presence in a body of water indicates the preservation of the environment and the absence of many pollutants.

TheUtricularia vulgaris, more commonly known as the Common Bladderwort, Coldwater Bladderwort, or Common Bladderwort, belongs to the Lentibulariaceae family. It is a species of freshwater carnivorous aquatic plants found in various northern hemisphere regions, in wet, marshy areas with a temperate climate in North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It thrives in open aquatic environments with low nutrient content, such as swamps and peat bogs. To compensate for this lack of nutrients, it consumes insects. The plant gets its name from its "bladders," which are named after the Latin word "utriculus," meaning "small wineskin," a container typically made of leather used to hold liquids like wine.

This herbaceous perennial aquatic plant does not have roots. Its floating branches can reach a length of one metre, while only its flower stalks rise above the water level, reaching a height of 10 to 20 cm. The Bladderwort is characterised by green leaves with transparent bladders, measuring between 2 and 6 mm long on average. Among the few capable of digesting microorganisms, this plant captures them with hairs on its stems and immobilises them in small pockets called bladders. These decomposing microorganisms provide the necessary food for the plant. The finely divided leaves, a vibrant green, are arranged alternately around the bladders, which ensure the plant's buoyancy. It is semi-evergreen in nature, retreating to the bottom of the pond during winter to propagate and reappearing on the surface when the water warms up. The Bladderwort flowers bloom above the water between June and August. During this period, the plant rises to the surface, displaying short, erect flower stalks 10 to 20 cm tall, bearing 5 to 8 golden yellow flowers, similar to snapdragons. The flowering, influenced by temperature, is less frequent in the northern part of its natural range. The seeds germinate underwater.

The Utricularia vulgaris, although modest in appearance, has delicate little flowers that bloom slightly above the water's surface. It grows relatively slowly, freely evolving between the surface and mid-water in calm areas. It requires caution as it does not tolerate hard water, sometimes making it difficult to maintain. In addition to its carnivorous role, the Common Bladderwort acts as an oxygenating plant by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, essential for fish. However, its predatory nature diverges from the usual function of oxygenating plants, which often serve as habitats for insect larvae and shelter for fry. It is essential to exercise necessary caution when introducing fish into your pond. Goldfish (carnivorous) generally pose no problems. Still, if you choose herbivorous fish such as Koi carp, grass carp, or tench, precautions must be taken by separating these species from the bladderwort in two distinct areas using a mesh or net.

Thanks to its non-invasive nature, the bladderwort is suitable for urban gardens, small ponds, natural swimming pools, and ponds and shores of large bodies of water. For a balanced composition, combine it with plants suitable for shallow areas, which will bring a diversity of flowering, such as the Aponogeton distachyos (Fragrant Water Lily), a floating plant with magnificent white flowers, the Butomus umbellatus (Flowering Rush) with pink umbel flowers, or the Calla palustris (Water Arum) with exotic looks. To promote water oxygenation and improve clarity, theUtricularia vulgaris pairs well with other submerged aquatic plants such as the Stratiotes aloides (Water Aloe), the Pontederia cordata, or the Ceratophyllum demersum.

Flowering

Flower colour yellow
Flowering time June to August
Flower size 2 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Flowering description The inflorescence rises above the water, forming a stem that bears five to eight golden yellow flowers with an orangish throat. Each flower is equipped with a hinged utricle, a few millimetres in size, allowing aquatic microorganisms to be captured.

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 15 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate slow
Suckering/invasive plant

Botanical data

Genus

Utricularia

Species

vulgaris

Family

Lentibulariaceae

Other common names

Greater Bladderwort

Origin

Northern Europe

Product reference21279

Planting and care

The Utricularia vulgaris floats freely at mid-height, evolving in calm and non-calcareous waters. This plant lives without roots, preferring shallow depths and poor environments. During winter, the plant retreats to the bottom of the pond to protect itself and then resurfaces as soon as the water warms up.

Place your Common Bladderwort in an artificial pond gently in the water, slightly spreading the stems. It is best to do this when the water warms up between April and July.

Introducing goldfish into your pond poses no problem, as they will not damage the plants. However, if you opt for herbivorous fish, such as Koi carp, grass carp, tench, and any other herbivorous fish, precautions must be taken to prevent them from nibbling on the pond plants. Installing a mesh or net to separate the areas is a solution.



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Planting period

Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to September

Intended location

Suitable for Pond
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 3 per m2
Exposure Sun

Care

Pruning instructions The maintenance of Utricularia vulgaris is minimal, generally limited to using a net to remove any excess foliage to contain the plant's growth in the desired space.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March to April
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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