Sarracenia rubra

RHS Plant Profile
sweet pitcher plant

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Other common names

red sidesaddle flower, sweet trumpet plant

Bogs Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants
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A clump-forming, carnivorous perennial to 50cm tall, with erect, red-veined, green to solid maroon pitchers. In spring it bears solitary, fragrant red flowers on stems above the foliage

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH
Acid

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Sarraceniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming, Columnar upright, Matforming
Genus
Sarracenia can be evergreen or herbaceous, rhizomatous perennials with rosettes of phyllodes mostly modified into insect-catching tubular pitchers with hooded lids, and solitary, nodding cup-shaped flowers in spring
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S. E. USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass, keep moist in full light with shelter from hot sun. Use a peat-free acidic potting medium with sustainably sourced moss. In winter, keep slightly drier, cool and well ventilated. Irrigate with lime-free water. They will generally lose some of their leaves over winter during a period of dormancy. Most Sarracenias can be grown outside in milder parts of the country, but care should be taken in colder conditions. Choose a position in full sun, sheltered from cold winds. See carnivorous plant cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove dead leaves as necessary

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free