Genus guide
Pinguicula — 29 species
Part of the Carnivorous plants family (Nepenthaceae, Droseraceae & Sarraceniaceae)
Pinguicula, the butterworts, are compact carnivorous perennials prized for their jewel-like rosettes and sticky, insect-trapping leaves. They thrive under abundant bright light — ideally within a foot of a sunny window or under grow lights — and demand consistently moist, nutrient-poor media such as a peat-and-perlite mix, always watered with distilled, rainwater, or reverse-osmosis water via a tray; tap water mineral salts quickly damage roots. Toxicity varies across the genus and has not been fully documented for all species, so check each before buying and keep plants away from curious pets as a precaution.
All Pinguicula species we cover
- Alpine Butterwort
- Chilean Butterwort
- Colima Butterwort
- Common Butterwort
- Crystal Butterwort
- Ehlers' Butterwort
- Gypsicola Butterwort
- Gypsum Butterwort
- Ibarra's Butterwort
- large-flowered butterwort
- Large-Leaved Butterwort
- Mexican Butterwort
- Mexican Butterwort
- Mexican Butterwort
- Moctezuma Butterwort
- Notched Butterwort
- Pinguicula 'Aphrodite'
- Pinguicula 'Tina'
- Pinguicula agnata
- Pinguicula cyclosecta
- Pinguicula Esseriana
- Pinguicula Gigantea
- Pinguicula laueana
- Pinguicula lusitanica
- Pinguicula primuliflora
- straight-leaved butterwort
- Tina butterwort
- Vallisneria-Leaved Butterwort
- Variable-Leaved Butterwort
Pinguicula — frequently asked questions
Are Pinguicula plants toxic to cats and dogs?
Most Pinguicula are not pet-safe. Of the 29 Pinguicula species in the Growli library, 22 (76%) carry a toxic or mildly-toxic ASPCA classification and 7 are pet-safe. Always confirm the exact species on its pet-safety page before trusting it around cats or dogs.
How much light do Pinguicula plants need?
Most Pinguicula do best in bright indirect light. If yours stretches toward the window or loses its variegation it wants more light; scorched or bleached leaves mean it is getting too much direct sun.
Are Pinguicula easy to care for?
Pinguicula are moderate to grow: the main requirement is a genuinely bright spot out of harsh midday sun. Get the light right and the rest of their care follows.
How many Pinguicula varieties are there?
Growli's care library covers 29 Pinguicula species and varieties — browse them all above. They share a similar light, water and soil pattern, so once you learn one Pinguicula, the rest follow closely.
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