Sarracenia or pitcher plant or trumpet plant is a genus of carnivorous plants consisting of eight species. All known species are widespread in the coastal regions of the USA and Canada and therefore come from the temperate zones. Here they thrive primarily in nutrient-poor soil, such as moorland areas, and spice up their menu with flying insects. Sarracenia can be cultivated both in planters and planted out in the garden - for example near a garden pond.
What is the Sarracenia plant?
Sarracenia, also called pitcher plant or trumpet plant, is a carnivorous plant genus. It includes eight species that occur primarily in coastal regions of the United States and Canada. Pitcher plants thrive in nutrient-poor soils such as moors and can be cultivated in the garden or in planters.
Origin and distribution
All eight types of pitcher plant or trumpet plant (bot. Sarracenia) are native to the USA, where they grow along the entire east coast up to Canada and in the north and far to the west in the moor areas and on lean, grow wild in damp meadows. The best known is probably the red pitcher plant (Bot. Sarracenia purpurea), which can also be easily cultivated as a garden and container plant due to its winter hardiness and robustness. In addition, the species is already wild in many parts, for example in Ireland, but also in Switzerland and Germany. Nevertheless, all Sarracenia species are considered to be endangered because their natural habitat - swamps and moor areas - has been severely reduced by humans.
Thus, the gardener contributes to the preservation of carnivorous species through their culture, especially since the moor and swamp plants can be cultivated wonderfully in the home water garden - for example near a pond or stream.
Appearance and growth
All Sarracenia species have a short rhizome, sometimes also a trunk, from which an evergreen, basal rosette of leaves sprouts. The plants are perennial.
leaves
The leaves of the carnivorous Sarracenia are evergreen, but renew themselves approximately once a year. The growth and structure are characteristic and give the plant its peculiar appearance: The leaves grow straight up straight from the rhizome without a stem and have a tube-like opening at the upper end, which practically functions like a funnel and both catches rainwater and acts as a trap for any rainwater that falls into it insects. Inside the leaves, rainwater collects together with bacteria, other microorganisms and various digestive enzymes and is used to digest the trapped insects. Incidentally, these are attracted by scents and sweet nectar secretions and, once they fall in, have no chance of escaping due to the smooth walls. Only the foliage of the parrot pitcher plant does not grow upwards, but lies horizontally on the ground.
In addition to the striking shape, the leaves also have a pretty green color with colored veins. For example, the foliage of the red pitcher plant is heavily streaked with red veins, while that of the yellow trumpet plant (bot. Sarracenia flava) has yellowish-green ones.
Bloom and flowering time
In early spring, together with the first new leaves, the rounded, lantern-like flowers of the pitcher plant form. These sit individually on tall flower stalks high above the tube-like leaves so that the pollinating insects - usually bees - are not endangered. The flowers, depending on the species, are between three and ten centimeters in size and have an unusual structure and are intensely colored. Also typical is the mostly unpleasant smell, which can be more or less strong. The flowers of the yellow pitcher plant, for example, which are open for about two weeks, exude a scent reminiscent of cat urine.
Fruit and seeds
After successful pollination, Sarracenia forms five-chambered capsule fruits that contain up to 600 seeds up to two millimeters in size. The fruits take about five months to ripen, eventually wilting and then splitting open. The tiny seeds are surrounded by a waxy shell that protects them from moisture. After all, in nature these are washed away by running water and spread.
With a little knowledge, pitcher plants can be easily propagated from seeds, but it takes between three and five years for the seedlings to grow fully and produce flowers for the first time. However, right from the start they create insect traps that are even simpler in structure but are already functional. By the way, all Sarracenia species are cold germinators, whose seeds only lose their germination inhibition when exposed to cold.
Toxicity
In general, pitcher plants are considered non-toxic to humans and pets. However, some Sarracenia species (e.g. the small pitcher plant, Sarracenia minor) contain small amounts of the poison coniine, which the highly toxic spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum) also produces. Most likely the poison is used to stun trapped insects.
Which location is suitable?
In order for the Sarracenia to feel comfortable in the bed, it needs a suitable location. A location that is as full of sun and airy as possible is best, where the plant gets at least six hours of sun a day. Only the blazing midday sun can cause burns and should therefore be avoided. In terms of temperature, the pitcher plant feels most comfortable at a warm 20 to 25 °C, but can also tolerate temperatures of 30 °C and more, at least when planted out in a bed - provided it receives enough moisture.
Sarracenia, which is also cultivated as a house or terrarium plant, requires a lot of light, which should be installed using plant lights if necessary. Since the plants also require high humidity and cannot tolerate dry ambient air, it is best to keep them in a glass container or terrarium. This is the easiest place to create the required microclimate. However, you should place garden specimens near a watercourse or a garden pond.
Soil / Substrate
It is best to plant the pitcher plant in ericaceous soil, which should be slightly acidic to acidic and as moist as possible. It doesn't hurt the plant to be several centimeters deep in water. For this reason, it is also ideal as a border plant for (artificially created) bodies of water in the garden.
By the way, a moor bed is relatively easy to create yourself. To do this, all you have to do is dig a pit about 40 to 60 centimeters deep of the desired size, line it with pond liner and fill it with peat or ericaceous soil. However, it is important that the potting soil used is unfertilized, as the carnivorous Sarracenia react very sensitively to additional fertilization. Finally, soak the bed with plenty of water and plant it.
If the pitcher plants are grown in pots, you should place them in a special carnivore soil, in ericaceous soil or alternatively in a mixture of white peat and sand.
Planting Sarracenia correctly
The best time to plant Sarracenia is in spring so that the perennials can still establish themselves well in their new location by winter. Choose a mild day in May, if possible after the Ice Saints, when possible late frosts are no longer a concern. This time is also optimal for transplanting the pitcher plants.
Watering Sarracenia
Sarracenia is a typical ericaceous plant for which it basically cannot be wet enough. In contrast to many other garden and house plants, pitcher plants should be constantly moist and tolerate waterlogging very well. You should water specimens grown in pots daily, preferably pouring the water directly into the saucer.
Do not use tap water under any circumstances, because like all carnivorous plants, Sarracenia is very sensitive to lime and would die sooner or later. Instead, use rain or pond water or, if neither is available, well-decalcified tap water. In addition, potted plants and garden specimens planted out in dry conditions should be sprayed with lukewarm, decalcified water.
Fertilize Sarracenia properly
Like all carnivorous plants, Sarracenia must not - or rather should not - be fertilized. The plants take care of themselves through trapped insects. Please do not be tempted to feed the plants: “Overfeeding” is also possible here, and the plants also have roots that are also used to supply nutrients when there are no insects.
Cut Sarracenia correctly
Pitch plants should not be cut back or otherwise disturbed with scissors or a knife.
Propagate Sarracenia
Are you excited about this interesting pitcher plant? Then you can look after your own offspring with relatively little effort:
- Division of larger plants in spring
- Sowing self-collected or purchased seeds
The seeds, which ripen in autumn, can be collected and stored in moist sand and in a well-sealed container for up to a year. If possible, store them in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. You can also either sow them straight into the bed in autumn or plant them in pots. Before that, however, they must be stratified in the refrigerator for at least two months. Then sow them in small pots or bowls with very moist soil and cultivate them at around ten to 15 °C. The seedlings germinate after about three to four weeks and should be transplanted as quickly as possible. From the end of May the young Sarracenia can finally go into the bed.
Wintering
Sarracenia are one of the few hardy carnivorous plants in our country. Indoor specimens also need hibernation, which is why you should keep them cool but frost-free between November and March at temperatures between two and a maximum of ten °C. Water the plants significantly less during this time.
Sarracenia cultivated in pots that are left outside on the balcony or terrace over the summer should also be brought indoors.
Tip
Pitcher plants harmonize very well in the bog bed with marsh violets (Viola lanceolata), bog lilies (Narthecium ossifragum), bog carnations (Helonias bullata) and other carnivores such as the round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) or the Venus flytrap (Dionea muscipula).
Species and varieties
The pitcher plant genus only includes eight different species, but is rich in a wide variety of hybrids. The species Sarracenia purpurea, S. flava and S. leucophylla in particular have proven to be frost-hardy under Central European conditions and feel extremely at home here.
- Yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava): up to 100 centimeters high, leaves yellowish in color and often red marbled, inflorescence yellow and red-veined, intense, unpleasant scent
- Red pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea): most common species with strong red-veined leaves and deep red flowers
- White pitcher plant (Sarracenia leucophylla): growth height up to 120 centimeters, white leaves, dark red flowers
- Pale pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata): growth height up to 80 centimeters, yellowish green leaves with red tips, creamy white flowers
- Small pitcher plant (Sarracenia minor): low growth between 25 and 35 centimeters, light yellow flowers
- Green pitcher plant (Sarracenia oreophila): growth height up to 70 centimeters, yellow-green leaves with red-veined cap, yellow flowers
- Parrot pitcher plant (Sarracenia psittacina): rare species with red leaves and white caps as well as red flowers, height up to 40 centimeters
- Brown-red pitcher plant (Sarracenia rubra): brown-red patterned leaves, red flowers, height up to 40 centimeters
