Utricularia stygia

RHS Plant Profile
nordic bladderwort

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Aquatic

A rootless, submerged aquatic and carnivorous plant that floats freely in water, reaching a height of up to 15cm. It has dark green, finely divided, thread-like leaves with specialised bladder-like traps for capturing small aquatic prey. It produces small yellow flowers with a slight reddish tinge from July to August

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lentibulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Floating, Submerged
Genus
Utricularia can be aquatic, terrestrial or epiphytic, insectivorous annuals or perennials with linear to kidney-shaped leaves bearing bladders to trap insects, and solitary or racemose, 2-lipped flowers held above water level
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Subarctic to C Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in clear, still, or slow-moving water. Inhabits freshwater bodies like shallow lakes, ponds, ditches

Propagation

Propagates vegetatively through fragmentation and by seed, though vegetative spread is more common in its aquatic habitat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free