Sarracenia alata
Ease to Grow: Easy
Dormancy: Suggested
Native Range: Wet Savannahs of the Gulf Coast of North America
Zones: 7-8 (6-9)
The Pale Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia alata has tall, narrow traps of a yellow-green color and fine red pinstriped veins. Mature tubes may appear deeper red. Faint areoles (windows) may appear on the tubes below the lip. S. alata is similar in appearance to S. rubra, but the light, fine red veins appear more as pinstripes rather than a fine network of S. rubra. Tubes are generous in their production of nectar and the plants often attract a lot of insect activity. It is a slow grower, and forms loose clusters of plants rather than dense patches. It prefers open, wet, boggy conditions, but is adaptable to clay or sandy soils. The moderately fragrant flowers are typically pale yellow or cream colored, and can fade to white. They generally bloom from March to April just before the pitchers fully develop. With proper care, Sarracenia alata flower stalks and sepals last through the year, resembling reddish green daffodils. S. alata is the only Sarracenia found west of the Mississippi River. In cultivation, this plant is best presented at the back of the bog garden with its high, narrow tubes. Its best pitchers are in the Fall.
Plants are shipped bare-root, wrapped in damp sphagnum moss. In it's dormant season, it will be shipped as a dormant rhizome with trimmed off pitchers. Photographs are representative of species and not the specific Sarracenia alata for sale. Veining and coloration may vary because these are a seed strain.
Height: 12"- 24"
Plant Type: Perennial, Warm Temperate
Soil: Upper Bog or General CP Mix
Light: Bright to partial bright indoors, full sun to partial sun outdoors.
Use: Grows well in the bog garden, greenhouse and indoors.
