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Hardy Pitchers


Adam Davis

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So I have it right that Sarracenia's are quite hardy. Which is the hardiest and could any grow in the garden in the uk? I'm thinking of getting one but is it worth it? I have dead bugs around my conservatory so I want a pitcher to clean them up.

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Some sarracenia are more hardy than others.

s.minor and leucophylla wont do well outside during our winters.Some flava's will do o.k.S.purpurea purpurea is very hardy but still doesn't like being sat in water through out our winters in some areas.

Sarracenia will grow outside well in a sunny spot protected from the wind but due to the size of some of them they can be damaged by strong winds.

I grow s.purpurea purpurea outside and s.flava but their growing season is much shorter than protected by a greenhouse.

The key again to grow these plants is to keep them wet to moist all summer but drier and well drained in winter with good air movement around the plants to avoid botrytis.

ada

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Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea is the hardiest of the lot (bullet proof when it comes to cold) and will grow very well 'in the garden' providing it's in the right situation -a sunny peat bog!

Also Sarracenia flava, especially those from the north of it's range, should also be hardy enough to grow outside all year (I don't, so can somebody who actually does grow Sarras outside confirm this, I know it failed to naturalise & I've read a lot of 'survive but won't thrive' but they tolerate some considerable freezing under glass).

If you want something for the conservatory then the whole range of species and hybrids is available to you (unless it doesn't get cool/cold in winter).

Edited by Ordovic
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I grew Sarracenia outside for a while many years ago. S.oreophilla is a tough one but a good gust of wind when the pitchers are there and it's never the same again that season. They never look as good as those under glass.

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Aww man, pipped to the post!

Interesting what you say, Ada, about purps not liking "being sat in water through out our winters in some areas". Any particular reason this should be? My purps (which I do grow outside) have been very happy paddling in a couple of inches or partly frozen in a block of ice over a few winters.

Ah yes, oreophila, of course.

Edited by Ordovic
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I've grown Moorei, flava, oreophylla and purpurea purpurea and Catesbaei outside for years but the taller ones get broken to pieces in the wind so I've moved them indoors. The shorter ones (purpurea purpurea and Catesbaei) will be your best bet for outdoors as they won't be effected by wind the same way.

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I've had Darlingtonia, Sarracenia flava var. flava, and Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa surviving winters with no mulching and coming back strong here in Denmark. Last years I planted some x mooreis, psittacinas, and leucophyllas, and covered them with a fibre sheet and straw. I grow my plants in an artificial bog outside, and naturally they are dormant longer than those of fellow growers who keep their Sarracenias in coolhouses. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that with the winter protection, they will grow for me and forgive the shortened growing season.

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If bug trapping action is your thing, purpurea is not the most efficient Sarracenia. For that, you have to look to flava and leucophylla (and their hybrids). I've had a Sarracenia flava var. flava growing in my bog for many years with minimal to no protection. Be advised that collecting carnivorous plant from the wild may be prohibited by law, and yes, there are carnivorous plants native to the UK.

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If bug trapping action is your thing, purpurea is not the most efficient Sarracenia. For that, you have to look to flava and leucophylla (and their hybrids). I've had a Sarracenia flava var. flava growing in my bog for many years with minimal to no protection. Be advised that collecting carnivorous plant from the wild may be prohibited by law, and yes, there are carnivorous plants native to the UK.

I am not going to take them, just want to see them in habitat

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