Violet Butterwort
Ease to Grow: Easy
Dormancy: No
Native Range: Savannas of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, N. America
Zones: 7-9 (6-10)
The Violet Butterwort, Pinguicula caerulea, is a perennial butterwort that is easy to grow. It has bright pale green leaves that curl upward along the margins, and pointed leaf tips. It looks quite similar to the Yellow Butterwort, P. lutea. Its leaves glisten in the sunlight because of the digestive glands on the leaf surface. It is a medium size butterwort, about 2-4" across with a rosette of sticky leaves. It prefers constantly moist, not wet, sandy peat soils, with no standing water. It is often associated with P. lutea and P. pumila, but not P. ionantha, P. planifolia or P. primuliflora which favor wetter habitats. They benefit from the dappled light provided by growing among grasses and other plants. The flowers are violet with prominent veins. There is a white flowering form with no venation. P. caerulea tolerates colder, wetter winters, than most other warm-temperate butterworts. There is no winter bud. It is a charmer in the collection, indoors or out. Good for beginners and terrariums. This selection comes from leaf pulls or seed, and may show some variation.
Plants are shipped bare-root, wrapped in damp sphagnum moss. Photographs are representative of the species, and not the specific plant shipped.
Height: 1" - 2+"
Plant Type: Perennial, warm-temperate
Soil: Long-fiber Sphagnum or All-purpose Mix
Light: Bright to partial bright indoors, full to bright open shade outdoors
Use: Grows well in the protected bog garden in summer, greenhouse and indoors. It is an excellent terrarium plant.
