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Sarracenia purpurea

The range of Sarracenia purpurea, also known as the purple pitcher plant, includes the east coast of the USA, the Great Lakes region, most of Canada, Washington state, and even Alaska. This is the most widely distributed species of Sarracenia which also includes established naturalised populations in Europe.

There are two subspecies: Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea and Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa. The former populates colder regions with the latter confined to the southern states. Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa is further divided into a few different varieties: Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. venosa, Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii and finally Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. montana.

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii is considered to be a species in its own right with the species name Sarracenia rosea. Read more about that here - Sarracenia rosea or Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii?

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada) Sold out

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada)

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Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea (Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada)

Sarracenia purpurea Sorrow Sold out

Sarracenia purpurea 'Sorrow'

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Sarracenia purpurea 'Sorrow' is a unique cultivar with striking pigmentation differences from typical Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea. It origi...

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Bay County, North Florida)
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Bay County, North Florida) Sold out

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Bay County, North Florida)

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This Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Sarracenia rosea) from Bay County, North Florida, is a large-growing Gulf Coast form with a cle...

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Sarracenia Purpurea - Intergrade Form (Pakim Pond New Jersey)
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Sarracenia purpurea - Intergrade Form (Pakim Pond, New Jersey)

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Sarracenia purpurea - Intergrade Form (Pakim Pond, New Jersey)

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa 'Sylwia'
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa 'Sylwia'
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa 'Sylwia'

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa 'Sylwia'

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Citronelle, Alabama) MK-PV57
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Citronelle, Alabama) MK-PV57
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Citronelle, Alabama) MK-PV57

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MK-PV57

Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Burkii F. Luteola
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii f. luteola
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii f. luteola

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii f. luteola

Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Burkii Smurf
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii 'Smurf'

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MK-PV48

Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Montana (Jackson County North Carolina)
Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Montana (Jackson County North Carolina)
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. montana (Jackson County, North Carolina)

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. montana (Jackson County, North Carolina)

Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Montana (Toms Swamp Rabun County Georgia)
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. montana (Tom's Swamp, Rabun County, Georgia)
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. montana (Tom's Swamp, Rabun County, Georgia)

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. montana (Tom's Swamp, Rabun County, Georgia)

Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. F. Pallidiflora
Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. F. Pallidiflora
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. venosa f. pallidiflora

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. venosa f. pallidiflora is a rare anthocyanin-free form of the southern purple pitcher plant. Stewart McPhers...

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Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Burkii - Chipola Giant Dr. Eberhard König (Chipola River
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii - Chipola Giant, Dr. Eberhard König (Chipola River, Florida) MK-PV55
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii ‘Chipola Giant’ Dr. Eberhard König (Chipola River, Florida) MK-PV55

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One of the giants! The 'Chipola Giant' Sarracenia purpurea subsp venosa var. burkii (or Sarracenia rosea if you prefer) clones are real show-stoppe...

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Sarracenia Pupurea Subsp. Purpurea (County Roscommon Ireland)
Sarracenia Pupurea Subsp. Purpurea (County Roscommon Ireland)
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (County Roscommon, Ireland)

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Sarracenia purpurea, being native to the North America continent, should not be expected to be found growing wild in Ireland. However, there are po...

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii 'Chipola Giant' (Chipola River, Florida)
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii 'Chipola Giant' (Chipola River, Florida)
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii 'Chipola Giant' (Chipola River, Florida)

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Sarracenia purpurea 'Chipola Giant' is a name given to a few clones of giant Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Sarracenia rosea) origi...

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Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Burkii (Eglin Airforce Base Okaloosa County Florida) Mk-Pv42
Sarracenia Purpurea Subsp. Venosa Var. Burkii (Eglin Airforce Base Okaloosa County Florida) Mk-Pv41
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii (Eglin Airforce Base, Okaloosa County, Florida) MK-PV41

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MK-PV41

Sarracenia purpurea 'Belly of Blood'
Sarracenia purpurea 'Belly of Blood'
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Sarracenia purpurea 'Belly of Blood'

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In 1999, seeds of Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa were successfully germinated at the University of California. After several years of cultivatio...

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa 'Gigantea'
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa 'Gigantea'
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa 'Gigantea'

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa ‘Gigantea’ is a selected form of Sarracenia purpurea distributed through Triffid Nurseries. It represents a large...

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea var. riplicola (Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada) MK-PP14
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea var. riplicola (Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada) MK-PP14
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea var. riplicola (Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada) MK-PP14

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea var. riplicola (Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada) MK-PP14

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea Near Durham, Grey County
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea Near Durham, Grey County
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Near Durham, Grey County, Ontario, Canada)

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Near Durham, Grey County, Ontario, Canada)

Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Wareham Forest, Dorset, UK)
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Wareham Forest, Dorset, UK)
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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Wareham Forest, Dorset, UK)

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Sarracenia purpurea subsp. purpurea (Wareham Forest, Dorset, UK) represents a naturalised population established in southern England. Originally na...

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FAQs

Can I grow Sarracenia outdoors in the UK?

Yes, most Sarracenia species are fully frost-tolerant and can live outside all year round in UK gardens, bog gardens, or patio pots. Species such as leucophylla and psittacina can be more sensitive and usually fare better in an unheated greenhouse.

How do I water Sarracenia?
  • March–October: Stand the plant pot in a saucer or tray containing 1 to 3 cm of rainwater (or more when the weather's really warm). The soil should never be allowed to dry out.
  • November–February: Keep the soil just damp, reducing the standing water significantly while they rest.
Can I use tapwater for Sarracenia?

No, unless you live in a very soft water area (<50ppm) do not use tapwater. Regular tap water contains minerals, lime, and chlorine that burn and kill the roots over time.
Always use collected rainwater, distilled water, or reverse-osmosis (RO) water.

Do Sarracenia need winter dormancy?

Yes, Sarracenia need a cold winter rest period (roughly from Halloween to Valentine's Day) with lower temperatures (unheated greenhouses, cold frames, or bright sheds). Their old pitchers will turn brown and die back; this is completely natural. Trim away dead growth in late winter to prevent mould (botrytis).

Read more here: How to Keep Your Sarracenia Healthy Through Winter Dormancy

What kind of soil should I use for Sarracenia?

Use a specialist peat-free or low-nutrient carnivorous plant compost, typically mixed with perlite or equivalent for drainage. Never use standard multi-purpose garden compost, which contains too many nutrients.

Read more here: Sarracenia Soil Mix Guide: Simple Pitcher Plant Soil for Beginners

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