Sarracenia purpurea
Common Pitcher Plant
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Common Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) - Description
Possibly the hardiest of all common pitcher plants, Sarracenia purpurea is native to the arctic bogs of Canada to New Jersey. Although the plant can be fairly variable in size and growth pattern, it typically flowers in spring with purplish/pinkish flowers. The leaves are modified so that they form little pitchers, hence the name pitcher plant, which are used to capture its prey. A very hardy carnivorous plant.
Common Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) - Blooming
Blooms solitary flowers in spring borne above the pitchers.
Common Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) - Growth
Grows well with full sun, or full light. Indoors, plant pitcher plants in shallow pots. Need to raise plants indoors in areas where temperatures drop below 23°F (-5°C), in a cold or cool greenhouse or on a sunny, warm windowsill. In warmer regions, grow Sarracenia outdoors in a damp, shaded peat bed or bog garden.
Common Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) - Planting
Sow seeds in spring at 61-70°F (16-21°C) after cold stratification for 2 weeks. Place pots in trays of acidic water. Prick out seedlings when they have produced at least 3 tiny pitchers. Conduct division in spring. Division entails propagating a plant by splitting it into 2 or more parts. Each part has its own root system and more than one shoot or dormant bud.
Common Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) - Pest
Scale insects, aphids, mealybugs, and tortix moth caterpillars.
Common Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) - Interesting facts
Some species of Sarracenia use a mild narcotic, coniine, to help with catching prey. The narcotic is found in the nectar that is produced along the rim of the pitcher. When the plant's prey drinks the nectar, it unwittingly drugs itself and will likely go unconscious and fall into the pitcher to be digested. Interestingly, coniine was first discovered as the poisonous compound found in poison hemlock. The name coniine is derived from the poisonous plant's genus name, Conium. Coniine may have a narcotic effect on insects, but it is deadly to humans.The flower is often referred to as a "dumb watch". When viewed from underneath (and especially after the petals have dropped), the flower looks like a wristwatch that is missing the hour and minutes hands.Also, flowers with reddish petals look like cups with red fluid overflowing out of them which has prompted them to be called "blood cups".
Common Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) - Soil and irrigation
Does best in humus-rich, wet, acidic soil. Indoors, use a mix of 3 parts sphagnum moss and 1 part each leaf mold and coarse sand or grit. Water regularly. In summer, stand containers in trays of acidic water. In winter, keep barely moist, cool, and well ventilated.
