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 rainwater.
Sarracenia flava var. maxima is a pitcher plant with lime-green traps; large yellow flowers may appear in the spring. For best results, grow in a sunny spot and 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.
