Pinguicula gypsicola

Pinguicula gypsicola comes from San Luis Potosí, Mexico. It is a carnivorous plant: it eats insects. This perennial lives for more than one year. Its common name is gypsum-loving butterwort. It is part of the Lentibulariaceae family and grows on rock. Its home climate is subtropical. This evergreen grows as a tufted rosette, not with woody branches. Its leaves form a tight cluster. The RHS lists it for homes, conservatories, and greenhouses. In Britain, keep it safe from winter cold.

Thin leaves stand upright in the rosette. Thick growths of glandular hairs cover the leaves. These hairs catch small insects, which the leaves then digest. The plant changes its leaf growth with the seasons. In winter, it goes into a state of partial rest. It may then grow small leaves that cannot catch insects. This change means its water needs change too. Keep the plant drier while it rests in winter.

Purple flowers bloom in summer, one on each flower stalk. These stalks reach about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres] tall. The RHS gives a wider range for full-grown plants. Both height and spread measure 0.33–1.64 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. The listed time to reach full size is two to five years. The blooms add summer colour above the thin leaves. Its evergreen rosette stays in leaf through the rest of the year.

The RHS suggests a pot mix with four equal parts. Use peat substitute, coarse sand, perlite, and dolomitic limestone chips. The mix should stay moist but let excess water drain. The soil can be neutral to alkaline, with sand or chalk. The profile lists full sun as its site need. Its more precise care notes call for bright, filtered light. Give it ample water as it grows, then less in winter. Choose a spot with shelter if placing it outside in summer. Its H1C rating shows summer outdoor use at 41–50°F [5–10°C].

The RHS says this plant needs no pruning. It also reports few usual problems with pests or disease. Grow new plants from seed or from leaf cuttings. Sow seed just as it ripens onto damp sphagnum moss. Take leaf cuttings near the end of winter. Its listed uses focus on growing under cover or indoors. These sites suit its need for warmth. They also let growers change watering with the seasons.