American Pitcher Plants

•  Easy to find, and fairly inexpensive

•  Good for the beginner

•  Smaller varieties great in terrariums

•  Dormancy optional 

For many, this is the easiest group to grow.  They are herbaceous perennials with  underground rhizomes, and can quickly spread if given a large growing space.  The interior walls of the pitchers are very waxy and slippery, so insects will lose their foothold when crawling inside and fall into the trap to be intoxicated further by the nectars, then ultimately dying and digested. 

There are nine species, but numerous hybrids.  Beginners to this group shouldn't have problems growing these plants indoors, and in many cases, outdoors.  Be sure to get a plant with a low mature height if you are growing them indoors (rubra, purpurea, psittaciana). 

Growing Media:

While outside, I grow mine in either pure Sphagnum moss or a mixture of peat and perlite.  

Temperatures:

Ideally, summer should be around 70-95F, while winter months 35-50F.  All these plants can take a light frost, and  S. purpurea ssp. purpurea can go below freezing if for short periods of time.  All pitcher plants should go into dormancy for 3-5 months; I've noticed they stunt their growth for about the same period of time if you try to grow them year-round.  

Water & Humidity:

All of these pitcher plants can grow in water logged soil, but will die if submerged in water too long.  High humidity is a must.  Lower the water & humidity for the winter dormancy. If grown indoors, they can grow in pots sitting in water trays just as well. 

Light:

Full sun is required, or 12-16 hours of light inside.  Pitchers will have better coloration if given full or direct sunlight. When receiving inadequate light, pitchers will be twisted and falling over. 

Asexual Reproduction:

The simplest way is to remove a leaf with a piece of the rhizome on it.  Place the tip in moss after dipping it in a fungicide, and give it high humidity and light. Keep around 70-85F, and give it a few months.

Another method is to cut the underground rhizomes into 1" pieces, keep what roots are there.  Place them inside some  sphagnum moss; give plenty of light and humidity. Give a few months.
The last method is only available for large plants; cut apart the crown into several pieces, making sure each piece has a part of the rhizome and roots.  Repot each one after dusting the cuts with fungicide, and continue growing.  The individual plants will go through a short period of shock, but will quickly continue growing. 

Sexual Reproduction:

Plants are rarely self-pollinating, and when they are, very few seeds are produced.  Cross-pollination provides the most seeds.  when flowers open, pollen is shed from the anthers.  Transfer the pollen to the pistils, and the ovary should swells in 3-5 months.  This is very difficult to do when grown in terrariums, because the flowers are heavily susceptible to fungus. 

Pest & Disease Problems:

The most recent problem I am having are plants being gluttonous pigs.  When the pitchers are full of bugs (and I mean FULL) the decomposing insects sometimes infects the pitchers, and they must be cut off from the base of the plants.  The other problem consist of bugs making a daring escape, as seen below. 

Grasshopper Houdini!

The Nine species include ( I underlined those species I do currently grow) :

S. alabamensis, alata, flava, leucophylla, minor, orephila, psittaciana, purpurea, rubra.

S. alabamensis :

Erect leaves up to 20 inches.    Green pitchers with red/burgandy veins. Not easy to find, it is considered endangered. Last place I saw it for sale was www.cpjungle.com 

S. alata : Commonly call the Pale Trumpet Plant.  Distinct leaves are green to yellow, and can have red veining/ red coloration at the tops.  Pitchers up to 30". Flowers have a distinct pungent odor. Easily purchased from many sellers.

© Joe Harden

S. flava : Known as the Yellow trumpet plant.  Pitchers grow up to 40", and are also green to yellow -- however, there are red blotches at the top of the leaves.  The entire pitcher can turn red in the summertime.   Puts out yellow flowers.  The hood prevents rain from entering the pitcher, and allows flying insects to land before falling into the funnel of death.  "Typical Form" is the name given to the natural S. flava, with green pitchers and a red throat.  "Veined Forms" have a much redder throat. "Coppertop" have heavy red veins, and a copper color to the upper pitcher. "All Green" lacks all red pigmentation.  "Red Tube" has a deep red tub, with green lip and throat.  Found from many sellers.

 

S. leucophylla :

Leaves can get up to 40", and is easily identified by the white coloration at the top of the pitchers. Tops can also have red to green veins.  Considered the most beautiful of the pitcher plants, and insects think so too.  This plant is known to fill up faster than the rest.  Unfortunately, they are widely used for cut floral arrangements.  Easily found.  

© Joe Harden

S. minor : 30" maximum height green pitchers, with red and yellow coloration. The most obvious characteristic is the hood curves over the opening. My personal pet peeve about this is the inability to pull the hood aside to peek into the belly of the plant. Once I get a large pitcher that I know is full, I'll cut it open and get a picture here.  Easily purchased from the suppliers.

 

S. oreophila :

Pitcher plant that can get up to 30", and has green to yellow pitchers with red coloration, and a contracted hood. Easily confused with S. flava & alata. Difficult to find for sale anywhere, also endangered.  The last place I saw it for sale was www.cpjungle.com 

 

Above Pictures © 6/97 Mark Pogany.  Eagle Creek, Ohio.          Above pictures © Joe Harden

S. purpurea : A Common pitcher plant, reaching 18". Normal green pitchers with red markings, that can turn completely red in the full sun.  Pitchers are more procumbent, instead of upright, and flowers have red to purple petals.  There is a variant that has completely green flowers and leaves.  A common plant to find in garden centers where CP's are sold, and the first Pitcher Plant any collector should try to grow. I have noticed if grown outside, the lids are curved inward to the point as almost touching,   as seen on the right.  If grown indoors, they only seem to wrap half-way around; my pictures above are all indoor plants, while Mark's pictures are those growing outdoors.

© Joe Harden

S. rubra  :   The Sweet pitcher plant. A clump forming plant with erect pitchers reaching an average of 12", but can reach 24". Dull green color with red to purple veining at the top. Smallest of the pitcher plants. Flowers are small and bright red, very fragrant.  Insects are lured by the color and nectar in the mouth much moreso than the rest of the Sarracenia.  S. r. ssp. rubra is a popular species, reaching up to 18", and highly fragrant.  S. r. ssp. jonesii is almost extinct, and pitchers can be 24" tall!. S.r. ssp gulfensis has a weak scent.  S.r. ssp alabamensis is also endangered, with heights up to 20".  S. rr. ssp. wherry has very fragrant flowers also. Easy to find.

© 6/97 Mark Pogany.

There are MANY hybrids and cultivars. The following are a few I plan on having available for sale in 2000. 

Photo Contributors:

Tobias Isenberg : - Webpage : Sarr. psittaciana
Plants Delight : Sarr. x 'Ladies in Waiting', x 'Dixie Lace'

Last update 04/13/00

Since 2/22/2000