Lundmosegård Planter.

Pitcher plants (Genus Sarracenia)

The genus Sarracenia is known in Danish as "Trompetblad" (Trumpet Leaf). It comprises approximately 11 species, along with a number of more or less well-defined subspecies, varieties, and forms. They are widespread in the USA and Canada, extending along the coast from Texas to North Carolina and further north into Canada in the form of the species Sarracenia purpurea. This species has a distribution that stretches further west across the northern United States and into southern Canada.

The greatest concentration of species is found in the southern part of the genus's range in the USA. Further north, only Sarracenia purpurea purpurea is present.

The exact number of species is often a topic of debate. Personally, I do not focus too much on the different varieties and forms but consider the subspecies to be important. So what is the difference? Subspecies are more well-defined, with many different types of characteristics, whereas varieties and forms are primarily distinguished by differences in color or size. Often, the different color forms can be found within the same plant population, with transitional forms between the various colors.

Many of the color forms may be the result of what is known as introgression—hybridization followed by backcrossing. When different species hybridize in nature and the offspring backcross with one of the parent species, they may, after several generations, resemble one of the parents in form but display divergent colors—for example, more red. One could imagine a yellow Sarracenia flava crossing with a red Sarracenia purpurea, which then backcrosses for a couple of generations with S. flava. Over time, it might resemble S. flava in shape and size but have turned red. A new variant has emerged.

With subspecies, we are dealing with different genetic lineages within a species, each of which is on its way to becoming a new species. So pay attention to whether the designation is subspecies or variant/form.

Hybridization is certainly an important factor in the ongoing evolution of the Sarracenia genus, but colors alone are not particularly interesting—except from a cultivation perspective.

In recent years, variant names have been created for S. alata, S. leucophylla, and S. oreophila. I have not included them here, as I consider them rather useless.

Sarracenia alabamensis subspecies:

• Sarracenia alabamensis alabamensis – from Alabama.
• Sarracenia alabamensis wherryi – from Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.

Sarracenia alata – from Texas to Alabama.

Sarracenia flava variants:

• Sarracenia flava atropurpurea – Along the Atlantic coast from Florida to the Carolinas.
• Sarracenia flava cuprea – Northwest Florida to the Carolinas.
• Sarracenia flava flava – The Carolinas to Virginia.
• Sarracenia flava maxima – Florida, the Carolinas, and Virginia.
• Sarracenia flava ornata – Northwest Florida and the Carolinas.
• Sarracenia flava rubricorpora – Florida.
• Sarracenia flava rugelii – Georgia and Florida.

Sarracenia jonesii – South and North Carolina.

Sarracenia leucophylla – Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Sarracenia minor variants:

• Sarracenia minor minor – Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
• Sarracenia minor okefenokeensis – Southeast Georgia.

Sarracenia oreophila – Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Sarracenia psittacina variants:

• Sarracenia psittacina okefenokeensis – Georgia, Florida.
• Sarracenia psittacina psittacina – Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia.

Sarracenia purpurea subspecies:

• Sarracenia purpurea montana – North Carolina, Georgia.
• Sarracenia purpurea purpurea – From Alaska to Nova Scotia and south to North Carolina. It has also been introduced and is widespread in many European countries, including Denmark!
• Sarracenia purpurea venosa – New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida.

Sarracenia rosea – Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Sarracenia rubra subspecies:

• Sarracenia rubra rubra – North Carolina, South Carolina, and Southeast Georgia.
• Sarracenia rubra gulfensis – Gulf Coast of Florida.
• Sarracenia rubra viatorum – Georgia, South Carolina.

All Sarracenia species tolerate frost to some extent. Winter-hardy species in Denmark include Sarracenia purpurea purpurea, some forms of Sarracenia purpurea venosa, many forms of Sarracenia flava, and all types of Sarracenia oreophila.

The other species can also withstand frost, but the Danish spring is too cold, and the summer is too cool and short for them to develop optimally. They either perform poorly outdoors, becoming only a shadow of their potential, or they slowly starve to death over several years. Both outcomes are unsatisfactory. Therefore, the more heat-demanding species thrive best in an unheated greenhouse, where the conditions are more optimal, with a longer and warmer growing season.

An interesting characteristic of the Sarracenia genus is that all species can be crossbred, and their hybrids can also be crossed further. The combination possibilities are almost endless, allowing breeding to focus on beauty, winter hardiness, and other desirable traits. Hopefully, in the coming years, we will see new hybrids well-suited for garden cultivation.

I grow all species and subspecies, as well as a variety of hybrids.

If you want to take a look at some of the garden hybrids I grow take a look here.

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INTRODUCTIONAL HEADING

In this paragraph you can write a description of your business, your personal interests, your professional skills - or really whatever you prefer to use this text block for actually. And here comes a repetition: In this paragraph you can write a description of your business, your personal interests, etc.