Utricularia ochroleuca
Cream-flowered bladderwort, Cream-Flowered Bladderwort
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Family: Lentibulariaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Utricularia ochroleuca (Cream-flowered bladderwort) is a native California herb in the Lentibulariaceae family, recognized by acute leaf tips and toothed margins distinguish from U. intermedia.
Cream-flowered bladderwort is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Cascade Range highlands, and Modoc Plateau in Plumas, El Dorado, and Modoc counties, inhabiting shallow acidic waters at elevations of 1,300 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from June to September, this aquatic plant produces cream-colored flowers with a distinctive lower lip nearly twice the size of the upper lip. Growing with two types of stems—some freely floating and green with leaves and few bladders, others rooted in mud and white without leaves—it creates a unique underwater structure. Its leaves are 5 to 15 millimeters long, intricately 3-parted at the base and variously dissected, with ultimate segments less than 20 and linear in shape. During winter, the plant produces bristly buds that help it survive in challenging aquatic environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; acute leaf tips and toothed margins distinguish from U. intermedia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shallow (generally < 30 cm) acidic waters
Elevation: 1300-2400 m
California counties: Plumas, El Dorado
Outside California: northern United States, Canada, circumboreal
Bloom period
Utricularia ochroleuca blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Pinguicula: Utricularia has yellow flowers and grows aquatic, while Pinguicula has blue-violet flowers on land.; vs Proboscidea: Utricularia has thread-like dissected parts in water, while Proboscidea has large solid leaves on land.; vs Mimulus: Utricularia has finely dissected underwater parts, while Mimulus has normal solid leaves.; vs Limosella: Utricularia has thread-like dissected parts, while Limosella has simple spoon-shaped leaves.; vs Synthyris: Utricularia is aquatic with dissected parts, while Synthyris is terrestrial with simple toothed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Utricularia ochroleuca native to California?
Yes. Utricularia ochroleuca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Utricularia ochroleuca bloom?
Utricularia ochroleuca blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Utricularia ochroleuca grow?
Utricularia ochroleuca occurs in Plumas, El Dorado, at elevations of 1300-2400 m.
What plant family does Utricularia ochroleuca belong to?
Utricularia ochroleuca is in the Lentibulariaceae family, genus Utricularia.
Is Utricularia ochroleuca rare or endangered?
Utricularia ochroleuca carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Utricularia sp. — Bladderwort
- Utricularia subulata — Zigzag bladderwort
- Utricularia bisquamata
- Utricularia gibba — Gibbous bladderwort
- Utricularia intermedia — Flat-leaved bladderwort
- Utricularia macrorhiza — Common bladderwort
- Lentibulariaceae sp. — Bladderwort family
- Pinguicula macroceras — Horned butterwort
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.