Species PlantsCommon Butterwort

Common Butterwort

Pinguicula vulgaris

UncommonPlant
Illustration of Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris)

Common Butterwort is a carnivorous plant with rosettes of sticky leaves that trap small insects. Its charming purple flowers add beauty to its boggy habitats.

Habitat
It is found in bogs, fens, and wet meadows.
Diet
It captures insects with its sticky leaves for nutrients.
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Common Butterwort

The best time to see a Common Butterwort is June–July, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,955 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Common Butterwort? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Common Butterwort sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Common Butterwort? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.

Get Huck

Get an alert when a Common Butterwort is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love plants? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More plants

Common Camas
Common Camas
Camassia quamash
Common Cattail
Common Cattail
Typha latifolia
Common Chickweed
Common Chickweed
Stellaria media
Common Cottongrass
Common Cottongrass
Eriophorum angustifolium
Common Dogbane
Common Dogbane
Apocynum cannabinum
Common Eelgrass
Common Eelgrass
Zostera marina
Common Evening Primrose
Common Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis
Common Hackberry
Common Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis