Sarracenias, commonly known as pitcher plants, are carnivorous plants mainly from North America. They bear flowers that grow singly on tall leafless stalks and most have long tubular 'pitchers'. Inside these pitchers is a well of digestive fluid that breaks down prey, which is then absorbed by the plant. Sarracenias are perennial plants that should be grown in full sun in nutrient-poor, acidic compost such as a specialist peat-free sarracenia compost. Water from beneath by standing the pot in a tray of water. Rainwater is best as pitcher plants dislike hard, lime-rich water.
There are many sarracenia hybrids,bearing large traps in a range of colour combinations, and bright yellow flowers. For best results, keep the compost moist at all times. There's no need to feed sarracenias with conventional plant food – instead place dead or alive insects in the pitchers, which the plants will feed from.
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Sarracenia and wildlife
Sarracenia has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
