Purple Pitcher Plant

Botanical Name: Sarracenia purpurea

Purple Pitcher Plant is native to North America and is an unusual carnivorous plant you can grow indoors.

Upright leaves are tubular, the tops slightly bent over like a hood. These "pitchers" contain juices that lure insects. Once an insect is inside, it is unable to escape the slippery slope and is digested by the plant's juices.

Pitcher colors and shapes vary by subspecies. S.p. venosa has dark purplish-red pitchers and bright green hoods with prominent purplish-red veins. S.p. purpurea is mostly purplish red with some green on the inside.

No blooms? If you bought a young plant at the store, you won't see flowers on it for a few years. Be patient. Mature plants will send up flowers in summer. And they are spectacular -- rising above the pitchers on tall stems. Bloom colors vary by subspecies and may be dark red, purple or pink.

Because of its unquenchable thirst, it's a good idea to pot Sarracenia purpurea in a shallow pot with drainage holes and place it in a saucer. Go ahead and water from the top, allowing the water to flow through the pot. You won't need to empty the saucer -- Purple Pitcher Plant will drink that up, too.

Purple Pitcher Care Tips

Sarracenia Plant in 3" Pot for Sale

Origin: East Coast of the US and Southeastern Canada

Height: 1-2 ft (30-60 cm)

Light: Bright light to full sun

Water: Water generously throughout the growing season, keeping the soil evenly moist. Use distilled water because the chemicals and minerals found in tap water will harm the plant. Never allow the potting mixture to dry out.

Humidity: Moderate to high humidity. Use a humidity tray.

Temperature: Cool to average room temperatures 60-70°F/16-21°C. It will tolerate a minimum of 40°F/4°C in winter.

Soil: Sarracenia needs a medium that's free of nutrients and allows good drainage. Use a mixture of 1 part sphagnum peat moss and 1 part perlite or horticultural sand. DO NOT use potting soil or compost because it it will kill the plant.

Fertilizer: n/a

Propagation: Divide plants when they are crowded in the pot. Or sow seeds in spring.