Utricularia purpurea aka Eastern Purple Bladderwort

Utricularia purpurea, or purple bladderwort, belongs to the Lentibulariaceae family. This short-lived perennial lives in water and catches small prey. Its native range spans eastern Canada and central and eastern parts of the United States. It also reaches southern Mexico, Central America, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Jamaica. In North Carolina, it grows in the coastal region. Its habitats include ponds, wet ditches, and waters with slow flow.

The plant floats freely and has no roots. Its stems stay under water and reach 3 feet (0.91 m) long. The listed size range is 1–3 feet (0.30–0.91 m), with much of that length submerged. Its spread is about 0.25–0.67 feet (0.08–0.20 m). Leaves grow in whorls, with five to seven per group. Each leaf splits into many thin parts, giving fine texture. The leaves range from green to brown and have no hairs. Small, near-round bladders sit at the tips of the leaf segments.

Flowers rise above the water on bare, reddish stalks. Each raceme carries one to five purple or lavender blooms. Flowers measure about 0.03–0.04 feet (0.008–0.013 m) long. Their two lips give them a shape like small snapdragons. The lower lip has three lobes and a white base. A yellow mark sits at its center. The upper lip is shorter but about as wide. A pale yellow to white spur curves below the lower lip. Flowering runs from May through September. Fruit appears from July through October.

For growing conditions, NC State lists full sun and acidic conditions. Its sun guidance means at least six hours of direct light daily. It also lists loam or silt and sites with standing water. This is a water plant, not a plant for dry ground. NC State rates both growth and maintenance as medium. The plant tolerates heat, but the evidence gives no winter hardiness range. Its rootless habit matters when reading the listed soil preferences.

Purple bladderwort suits ponds, water gardens, and containers that hold water. Its fine leaves and raised blooms offer two distinct features. NC State also lists it for native and butterfly gardens. It draws birds, flies, butterflies, and moths. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases. They also give no evidence for edible parts or medicinal uses. Human and pet safety are not established by these records.