- Botanical name: Sarracenia flava var. maxima
- Common name: Pitcher plant
- Family: Sarraceniaceae
- Plant Type: Conservatory, House plant, Perennial, Deciduous
Yellow
Golden
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
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 compost, and watered from beneath by keeping the plant 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.
How to grow Sarracenia flava
-
Plant size
90cm height
40cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / boggy / clay / heavy / moist
- Plant care: Needs regular watering in pots
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do not Sow in March |
A
Do not Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do Sow in September |
O
Do Sow in October |
N
Do Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
Sarracenia flava and wildlife
Sarracenia flava has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Sarracenia flava poisonous?
Sarracenia flava has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
