Pinguicula gigantea
You say “gigantea,” I say “gigantic.” Pinguicula gigantea lives up to its name as the largest known Mexican butterwort with a diameter of around one foot. This ping is easy-growing, and does well outdoors at the author’s Northern California residence. The plant was discovered in 1987 by Alfred Lau in Oaxaca, Mexico growing on sheer cliffs in direct sun. You’ll often find them sharing space with Tillandsias.
Unique biology of a Pinguicula gigantea
Trap characteristics
Other notable characteristics
Other Butterwort species, varieties & hybrids
Pinguicula gypsicola
Pinguicula gypsicola is a marvelously peculiar Mexican butterwort. It straight-up looks like the kraken emerging from the depths to swallow a ship. Or maybe it looks more like a sarlacc hungry for Boba Fett?
Pinguicula moranensis
The most popular butterwort in cultivation, Pinguicula moranensis is easy to care for and makes a great candidate for windowsill and terrarium growing. It's a handsome ping and highly variable, as far a butterworts are concerned.
Butterwort
Butterworts are the carnivorous plant equivalent of flypaper. Commonly referred to as “pings” from their scientific name Pinguicula, this name means “little greasy one” in Latin. It is derived from their broad green leaves that are covered with tiny glandular hairs that secrete sticky mucilage, greasy to the touch.
Pinguicula gigantea
You say "gigantea," I say "gigantic." Pinguicula gigantea lives up to its name as the largest known Mexican butterwort with a diameter of around one foot. This ping is easy-growing, and does well outdoors at the author's Northern California residence.
Add A Missing Plant
Are we missing a species, hybrid, subspecies, or plant variety? Help us improve our carnivorous plant database by submitting your own!