Large-flowered butterwort

Pinguicula grandiflora | Also known as: Irish butterwort | Rating: 0 votes | Print / Pdf

When you think of a carnivore you’re unlikely to picture in your mind pinguicula grandiflora or the large-flowered butterwort. This plant produces an incredibly beautiful purple flower, held above the fleshy oval-shaped foliage via a slender stem. This pretty disguise hides a clever beast that’s always ready to feast. The large-flowered butterwort captures insects in mucilage and then it digests them – but as long as you’re larger than a fly you don’t have anything to worry about and may in fact find this plant a helpful little pest control companion. Large-flowered butterwort does well in a combined peat and sandy soil that is kept moist. It should also be placed in partial shade. This plant is ideal for containers and will help to keep pesky insects at bay on your patio or in a courtyard.

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Plant
Known dangers?
  • no
Height [m]
  • 0.15
Spread [m]
  • 0.1
Dominant flower colour
  • Blue
Flower Fragrance
  • No, neutral please
Flowering seasons
  • Early summer
  • Mid summer
  • Late summer
Foliage in spring
  • Green
Foliage in summer
  • Green
Foliage in Autumn
  • Green
Awards?
  • Yes, let it smell
Propagation methods
  • seed
  • division
Growth habit
  • Rosette
Environment
Acidity
  • Acidic
Hardiness zone
  • Z3-5
Heat zone
  • H5-3
Winter temperatures [°C]
  • -40 - -23
Heat days
  • 7 - 45
Moisture
  • poorly-drained
  • boggy
Soil type
  • sandy
  • loams
Sun requirements
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Exposure
  • Sheltered
Usage
Standard category
  • Exotic, house plants & other
  • Carnivorous
Grown for
  • Attractive Flowers
Creative category
  • Kid Approved
  • For Beginners
  • Colours
  • Pond plants
  • Tough survivors
  • Author's choice
Garden type
  • Bog garden
  • Indoor or winter garden
  • Cottage garden
  • Containers
Gardening expertise
  • beginner
Time to reach full size
  • up to 10 years
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2 Related plants
Pinguicula

Weser butterwort

PLANTS Pinguicula

Pinguicula or butterwort is a wolf in sheep’s clothing – or in this case, a carnivore in petals. Butterworts are a genus of carnivorous plants with glandular leaves and insects meet a rather sticky end when they get trapped on them. Butterworts bloom from late spring to summer and can produce stunning flowers in a range of beautiful shades including vivid pinks, blues and purples. Butterworts can grow in full sunlight or partial shade and do well in infertile soils. For a happy butterwort, plant care should involve keeping the soil moist and ensuring it has good drainage. Once you get a taste for these crafty carnivores you’ll want to display them everywhere, which won’t be too hard as they are pretty versatile. They can accommodate extremes such as rock gardens and bog gardens and may even grow in walls. They’re also a great choice for wildflower gardens or growing in containers. Consider yourself warned, as their quirky charm will capture your affections in no time.