Sarracenia or pitcher plant or trumpet plant is a genus of carnivorous plants consisting of eight species. All known species are distributed in the coastal regions of the USA and Canada and thus come from the temperate zones. Here they thrive primarily in nutrient-poor soils, for example in moorland areas, and spice up their menu with insects flying by. Sarracenia can be cultivated both in planters and planted out in the garden - for example near a garden pond.

The Sarracenia likes it moist

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. origin and distribution
  2. appearance and growth
  3. leaves
  4. flowering and flowering time
  5. fruit and seed
  6. toxicity
  7. Which location is suitable?
  8. soil / substrate
  9. Plant Sarracenia correctly
  10. Pour Sarracenia
  11. Fertilize Sarracenia properly
  12. Pruning Sarracenia properly
  13. multiply Sarracenia
  14. hibernate
  15. species and varieties

    16. origin and distribution

    All eight species of the pitcher plant or trumpet plant (bot. Sarracenia) are native to the USA, where they grow wild along the entire east coast up to Canada and in the north and far west in the moors and on lean, damp meadows. The best known is probably the red pitcher plant (bot. Sarracenia purpurea), which can also be cultivated very well here 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 endangered, since their natural habitat - swamps and moors - has been pushed back by humans.

    The gardener thus contributes to the preservation of the carnivorous species through their culture, especially since the moor and marsh plants can be wonderfully cultivated in the local water garden - for example near a pond or stream.

    appearance and growth

    All Sarracenia species have a short rhizome, sometimes also a stem, from which an evergreen, basal leaf rosette sprout. The plants are perennial.

    leaves

    The leaves of the carnivorous Sarracenia are evergreen but renew about once a year. The growth and structure are characteristic and give the plant its peculiar appearance: the leaves grow straight straight out of the rhizome without a stalk and have a tube-like opening at the upper end, which acts like a funnel (€5.00) and catches rainwater as well as a trap for insects falling into it. Inside the leaves, the 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 secretions of sweet nectar and, once they have fallen 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 leaf veins. For example, the foliage of the red pitcher plant has red veins, while that of the yellow trumpet plant (bot. Sarracenia flava) has yellowish-green veins.

    flowering and flowering time

    In early spring, together with the first new leaves, the round, lantern-like flowers of the pitcher plant appear. These sit high above the tube-like leaves individually on high flower stalks, so that the pollinating insects - mostly bees - are not endangered. Depending on the species, the flowers are between three and ten centimeters in size, have an unusual structure and are intensely colored. Also typical is the usually unpleasant smell, which can be more or less strong. The flowers of the yellow pitcher plant, for example, which remain open for about two weeks, exude a scent reminiscent of cat urine.

    fruit and seed

    After successful pollination, Sarracenia forms five-chambered capsule fruits that contain up to 600 seeds that are up to two millimeters in size. The fruit takes about five months to ripen, eventually wilting and then cracking open. The tiny seeds are surrounded by a waxy covering that protects them from moisture. After all, in nature they are washed away by running water and thus spread.

    With a little expertise, pitcher plants can be propagated very well from seeds, but it takes between three and five years for the seedlings to grow fully and form flowers for the first time. However, right from the start they form insect traps that are even simpler but already functional. Incidentally, all Sarracenia species belong to the cold germs 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 (such as the pitcher plant, Sarracenia minor) contain small amounts of the toxin coniin, which the highly toxic spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum) also produces. Most likely, the poison serves to stun captured insects.

    Which location is suitable?

    In order for the Sarracenia to feel comfortable in the bed, it needs a suitable location. An airy place that is as full as possible and where the plant gets at least six hours of sun a day is best. Only the blazing midday sun can lead to burns and should therefore be avoided. In terms of temperature, the pitcher plant feels most comfortable at a warm 20 to 25 °C, but tolerates, at least planted out in the bed, 30 °C and more - provided it receives enough moisture.

    Sarracenia cultivated as indoor or terrarium plants also need a lot of light, which should be installed using plant lights if necessary. Since the plants also need 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. Garden specimens, on the other hand, should be placed near a watercourse or a garden pond.

    soil / substrate

    It is best to plant the pitcher plant in bog bed soil, which should be slightly acidic to acidic and as moist as possible. Standing several centimeters deep in water does not harm the plant either. For this reason, it is also ideal as a border planting for (artificial) water bodies in the garden.

    Incidentally, a bog bed is relatively easy to create yourself. All you have to do is dig an approximately 40 to 60 centimeter deep pit of the desired size, line it with pond liner and fill it with peat or bog soil. However, it is important that the potting soil used is not fertilized, since the carnivorous Sarracenia are very sensitive to additional fertilization. Finally, soak the bed with plenty of water and plant it.

    If, on the other hand, the pitcher plants are cultivated in a pot, you should put them in a special carnivore soil, in bog bed soil or alternatively in a mixture of white peat and sand.

    Plant Sarracenia correctly

    The best time to plant Sarracenia is 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 late frosts are no longer to be feared. This time is also ideal for transplanting pitcher plants.

    Pour Sarracenia

    Sarracenia is a typical bog plant that basically cannot get wet enough. In contrast to many other garden and indoor plants, pitcher plants should be constantly moist and tolerate waterlogging very well. Specimens cultivated in pots should be watered daily, preferably putting the water directly into the saucer.

    Never use tap water, because like all carnivorous plants, Sarracenia are also very sensitive to lime and will sooner or later die. Use rainwater or pond water instead, 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 does not have to be fertilized. The plants take care of themselves with insects they have caught. Please do not be tempted to feed the plants either: “Overfeeding” is also possible here, and the plants also have roots that are also used for the nutrient supply if there are no insects.

    Pruning Sarracenia properly

    Pitcher plants should not be pruned or otherwise bothered with scissors or a knife.

    multiply Sarracenia

    Has your enthusiasm for the interesting pitcher plant been awakened? Then you can take care of offspring yourself with relatively little effort:

    • Division of larger plants in spring
    • Sow self-collected or purchased seeds

    The seeds, which ripen in autumn, can be collected and stored in moist sand and in a tightly closed container for up to a year. If possible, keep them in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. You can either sow them in the bed in autumn or grow 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 trays with very moist soil and cultivate them at around 10 to 15 °C. The seedlings germinate after about three to four weeks and should be pricked out as soon as possible. From the end of May, the young Sarracenia can finally go into the bed.

    hibernate

    Sarracenia are among the few hardy carnivorous plants in our country. Room specimens also need a hibernation, which is why you 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, which are left outside on the balcony or terrace during the summer, should also be brought indoors.

    tips

    Pitcher plants harmonize very well in the bog bed with marsh violets (Viola lanceolata), bog lilies (Narthecium ossifragum), bog pinks (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 includes only 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 very much at home here.

    • Yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava): up to 100 centimeters high, yellowish leaves and often red marbled, yellow inflorescence with red veins, intense, unpleasant scent
    • Red pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea): most common species with rich 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 centimetres, yellowish-green leaves with red tips, cream-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 centimetres, yellow-green leaves with red-veined cover, yellow flowers
    • Parrot pitcher plant (Sarracenia psittacina): rare species with red leaves and white hoods and red flowers, height of growth up to 40 centimeters
    • Brown-red pitcher plant (Sarracenia rubra): brown-red patterned leaves, red flowers, height of growth up to 40 centimeters

Category:

Vegetable garden