Pitcher Plant, Adam's Cup, Carrion Flower, Dumb Watches, False Foxglove, Fever Cup, Fly Trap, Huntsman's Cup, Huntsman's Horn, Indian Cup, Indian Tea Kettle, Meadow Cup, Purple Sidesaddle Flower, St Jacob's Dipper, St John's Dipper, Trumpet Leaf, Whip-Poor-Will's Boots, Whip-Poor-Will's Shoes
Extremely cold-hardy, Sarracenia purpurea (Purple Pitcher Plant) is a carnivorous perennial prized for its evergreen, semi-erect, squat, green pitchers, up to 12 in. long (30 cm), flushed and veined burgundy-red. Unlike in erect pitcher plants, the lid does not shield the pitcher opening. It is erect, with a pair of lateral wings on each side. In spring, purple-red flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), rise atop leafless stalks well above the pitchers. While Sarracenia pitchers usually live for a year, the pitchers of Sarracenia purpurea tend to survive for two years unless they are damaged by fire or excessively cold conditions. Pitcher Plant is very effective at trapping and killing insects. Lured by the attractive leaf color, insects that land on the lids get paralyzed by the nectar. They fall down into a digestive fluid at the bottom of the pitcher where they will decompose and nutrients get absorbed. This plant is best grown in the consistently moist soils of a bog garden or in containers. It is a great addition to the acid water garden.
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Sarraceniaceae |
| Genus | Sarracenia |
| Common names | Carrion Flower, Fly Trap, Pitcher Plant |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing |
12" - 16" (30cm - 40cm) |
| Maintenance | High |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
| Native Plants | Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
| Tolerance | Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Bog Gardens, Patio And Containers, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Sarraceniaceae |
| Genus | Sarracenia |
| Common names | Carrion Flower, Fly Trap, Pitcher Plant |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing |
12" - 16" (30cm - 40cm) |
| Maintenance | High |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
| Native Plants | Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
| Tolerance | Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Bog Gardens, Patio And Containers, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
How many Sarracenia purpurea (Purple Pitcher Plant) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Sarracenia purpurea (Purple Pitcher Plant) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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