Common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Greater bladderwort
Family
Lentibulariaceae (bladderwort family)
Origin
Europe and Asia (replaced in eastern Asia and North America by the related U. macrorhiza)
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
100 cm
Temperature
4–24°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
0–10 dGH
Care level
intermediate
Lighting
High light (full sun in ponds); CO2 not needed
Flow
Still water

Care

Utricularia vulgaris (common or greater bladderwort) is a free-floating, rootless carnivorous plant of still European and Asian waters. Its stems can grow over 1 m in one season, with finely divided leaves 1–8 cm long carrying many bladder traps. Yellow flowers stand above the water from April to August. It is a plant for wildlife ponds and large unheated tanks. In autumn the stems die back and leave winter buds (turions) that sink and regrow in spring. Soft, nutrient-poor water suits it best. It does poorly in tropical aquaria. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utriculariavulgaris); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Grows from stem fragments in summer and from turions after winter; collect and store turions in cool water to start new plants in spring.

Compatibility and tank mates

A coldwater or pond plant; it does poorly in heated tanks. Its traps can catch fry and tiny shrimp, so keep it out of breeding tanks. Adult fish, snails and shrimp are not harmed.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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