Climate and Hardiness

• Sarracenia thrive in warm temperate climates with hot and humid summers and usually mild winters with occasional cold spells and even light frosts. The only exception is S. purpurea, the most northern of all the species, which survives freezing winters.
• Some species such as Sarracenia psittacina, S. rosea, and most S. minor types are best adapted to long growing seasons and mild winters. Sarracenia psittacina and S. rosea are the species recommended for growing indoors under lights year round. Sarracenia rosea and S. minor are all fully hardy to USDA zone 8.
• The other Sarracenia species are fully hardy to USDA zone 7 although some Sarracenia leucophylla hybrids may need protection. The plants in pots will survive a few weeks frozen solid if they are fully dormant and do not freeze-dry.
• Sarracenia flava, S. oreophila, S. jonesii, and hybrids of those species are hardy to USDA zone 6. They are best grown in artificial bogs in the ground and heavily mulched with row cover during the winter.
• Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea is hardy to USDA zone 3 can be planted outdoors year round. Other Sarracenia species in pots can be overwintered in cold greenhouses, cold frames or unheated garages. It is important the winter storage location is cool to cold because Sarracenia require a dormancy period, with decreased light and temperatures, of a few months in the winter.

Click here to see all Sarracenia varieties

Growing Sarracenia

Sarracenia can be grown successfully in a bog garden or planter if the following requirements are respected.

• Most Sarracenia enjoy full sun - at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight during the growing season. They develop their best colors in very bright light. Without enough sun, they will become weak, display poor color and eventually die. Saracenia purpurea, however, enjoys shading from intense afternoon sun.
• Sarracenia require constantly moist-wet, nutrient free acidic soil. The soil is typically a sand/peat mix, usually dominated by sand.
• Sarracenia should be planted 5-6 in. (12-15 cm) above the water table of the bog garden. They can tolerate very wet, even submerged conditions, for weeks at a time. 
• Shelter your Sarracenia plants from strong winds if you want to grow some of the taller species and hybrids.​
• The most common way to grow Sarracenia is in pots sitting in water. For mature specimen plants, pots that are 6-8 in. wide (15-20 cm) work best. The pots should always be sitting in about 2 in. (5 cm) of water. Sarracenia should never be allowed to dry out.
• Sarracenia are particularly sensitive to salt in the water supply. Flush out the plants with extra water 2-3 times a season to wash away the salt concentrations or use rain, distilled or de-ionized water to prevent this issue.

Click here to compare all Sarracenia varieties

Propagating Sarracenia

• Sarracenia can be propagated by seed or rhizome divisions
• Sarracenia seed requires a stratification period to germinate well. Plants require 3–5 years to reach maturity from seed. Regular fertilization with a balanced fertilizer will speed their growth and time to maturity.
• Mature Sarracenia are commonly propagated by division: carefully cut the rhizome to separate the individual crowns, paying attention not to damage the roots. Replant immediately.

Sarracenia species hybridize and produce fertile offspring freely. Since Sarracenia hybrids are able to hybridize further, there are today thousands of Sarracenia hybrids each with their own growing preferences.