Pinguicula pumila (Butterwort)

Pinguicula pumila is a small carnivorous plant native to the south-eastern United States, where it occurs across parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Texas. It inhabits seasonally wet savannahs, seepage slopes, bog margins, and other open, nutrient-poor wetlands that experience regular rainfall and high humidity. As one of the smallest North American butterworts, it forms compact rosettes rarely exceeding a few centimetres in diameter and is often found growing amongst mosses and low vegetation.

The leaves are covered in specialised glandular structures that produce a sticky mucilage used to capture tiny insects such as fungus gnats, springtails, and other small invertebrates. Once trapped, prey is digested by enzymes secreted from the leaf surface, allowing the plant to supplement its nutrient intake in otherwise impoverished soils. The foliage is typically pale green to yellow-green and forms a neat, low-growing rosette. During the growing season, Pinguicula pumila produces delicate flowers on slender stems, most commonly displaying soft violet to lavender-purple petals with a pale throat, although flower colour can vary across its range.

Unlike many Mexican butterworts, Pinguicula pumila is generally considered an annual or short-lived perennial, relying heavily on prolific seed production to maintain populations in the wild. Its compact size, attractive flowers, and unique ecology make it an interesting species for collectors seeking lesser-known butterworts. Although small in stature, it demonstrates the same remarkable carnivorous adaptations found throughout the genus and provides an excellent example of the diversity present within North American carnivorous plants.

Origin: South-eastern United States
Plant Type: Annual to short-lived perennial carnivorous butterwort
Growth Habit: Compact ground-hugging rosette
Flowers: Violet to lavender-purple flowers with a pale throat
Light: Bright light to partial sun
Water: Prefers pure water and consistently moist conditions during active growth
Growing Medium: Moist, nutrient-poor carnivorous plant mix or sandy peat-based substrate
Dormancy: No true dormancy; often completes its life cycle through seed production

What's Included: One healthy Pinguicula pumila growing in a Nano Nursery cup, ready to continue developing under suitable conditions.