Plant Profiles

Utricularia aurea

Live freshwater plant Utricularia aurea - Golden Bladderwort for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Utricularia aurea - Golden Bladderwort. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Utricularia aurea
Golden Bladderwort
$18.95

Utricularia aurea, commonly known as Golden Bladderwort, is an interesting carnivorous plant native to Australia. It has a unique method of obtaining nutrients by trapping tiny aquatic organisms in its bladder traps, which are located on its leaves. When the bristles near the opening of the these bladder-traps are triggered (by small organisms such as water fleas or mosquito larvae), the trap swiftly opens and draws the prey inside through a rapid inflow of water. This rootless plant is easy to grow and can be used in ponds and aquariums either as a floating plant or planted in the substrate.

Golden Bladderwort has fine and very fluffy-looking pinnate leaves that are yellowish-green in colour. In lower light conditions, the leaves are smaller and grow green, while in medium light, the leaves become more fluffy and yellowish in colour. Intensive lighting or direct sunlight causes the crown of the plant to turn a dark, intensive red. The colour intensity is more prominent when nitrate levels are low.

This plant is undemanding and suitable for soft to hard water conditions. It can be used as a floating plant or tucked into coarse substrate like a stem plant, although it does not grow any roots to hold itself in place. In fact, Utricularia species don't even have 'true' leaves, with finely divided underwater leaf-like stem protrusions instead. Despite its carnivorous adaption to tolerate water with very low nutrient levels, it can actually tolerate fairly high water level nutrients and does not seem to lose its bladder-traps in these conditions. Golden Bladderwort is a fast grower and benefits from supplemental CO2, which can further enhance its growth rate.

This species is a fascinating and unique carnivorous plant that is easy to grow and suitable for a range of aquatic environments. Its fine pinnate leaves and yellowish-green colour add an interesting contrast to aquariums. It will even produce small yellow flowers on stalks at the surface when kept in ideal conditions. As a fast grower, it can quickly fill in spaces in the aquarium, and it is an excellent addition for those who want to manage mosquitoes in the pond or just want to add a carnivorous plant to their aquascape.

Requirements and information

Temperature:
TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:
CoarseFine

Substrate nutrients:

Low

Water nutrients:

Low

Light demand:

Medium

CO2:

Medium

Height:

Tall

Growth rate:

Vigorous

Growth habit:

Stem

Floating

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Native to: