Bladderworts are annuals or herbaceous perennials, usually growing as aquatic plants or found in other wet environments. There are 285 species worldwide, making it the largest genus of carnivorous plants. It is a member of the bladderwort family (Lentibulariaceae). The genus name is derived from the Latin for “a small vessel” and refers to the traps. Cultivation is best accomplished by mimicking the natural habitat of the plant. Aquatic bladderworts prefer growing in still, shallow, acidic water with low nutrient value. Most species want full sun. Some species can spread aggressively and are not suitable for small ponds. Terrestrial species are grown in containers of pure sand that must be kept moist or wet at all times. Use rainwater or distilled water on these plants. They are sensitive to chemicals used in water treatment. 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 rotifers and mosquito larvae, but some bladderworts capture and absorb vegetable matter. The aquatic species are completely submerged in water except for the stem and blooms. They may anchor themselves or float freely. Other species grow in very wet soil or are epiphytic and are usually tropical. None of them has true roots. Tropical bladderworts can be grown successfully in containers as houseplants. Temperate species are perfect for ponds, aquaria or container water gardens. As the trapping mechanism cannot be easily observed, they are not as popular as other carnivorous plants in children’s gardens. They would be perfect for an aquatic pollinator garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Annual; Carnivorous; Herbaceous Perennial; Water Plant
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf margin
Lobed
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Lipped
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Small flowers with 2 asymmetrical lips in pink, purple, white or yellow appear in spring and summer and are held above the water on 1- to 5-inch stems. They range in size from ¼ inch to 1½ wide. The epiphytic species of South America have the showiest flowers.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Stem detail
Most species form long, thin, sometimes branching stems or stolons beneath the surface of the substrate whether it be water or soil.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America and most places in the world
Distribution
Every state
Wildlife value
The flowers are rich in nectar and visited by bees.