Sarracenia × naczii
Naczi's pitcher plant
Gulf and Atlantic coastal plain, southeastern United States
Overview
Sarracenia x naczii is a natural hybrid pitcher plant in the genus Sarracenia spp., found where the ranges of its parent species meet on the southeastern coastal plain. It forms a rhizome that produces a cluster of upright, trumpet-shaped pitchers 12-30 inches (30-75 cm) tall. The pitchers are modified leaves, green at the base and flushed red over the upper tube, with a network of darker veins and an arching hood that overhangs the opening. Insects are drawn to nectar along the rim, lose their footing on the waxy inner surface, and fall into a pool of digestive fluid at the base of the tube. In spring, before or with the new pitchers, nodding flowers 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) across open on leafless stalks 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall, with red to maroon petals. Pitchers wither in late autumn and the plant overwinters as a dormant rhizome. Growth is slow, and a clump takes several years to fill out. The plant declines in rich soil or hard tap water, both of which damage the roots.
Native Range
Native to the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plain of the southeastern United States, in the zone where its Sarracenia spp. parent species overlap. Grows in open, sunny bogs, wet pine savannas, and seepage slopes with permanently moist, acidic, nutrient-poor soils at low elevations.Suggested Uses
Grown in bog gardens, container water gardens, and pots standing in trays of water, spaced 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) apart. Suited to permanently wet, sunny sites in zones 7-9 where many other perennials fail. Also grown under cover in cool-temperate areas that lack a reliably mild winter.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'6"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring, generally April and May, as winter dormancy ends and before the season's pitchers fully expand. Each nodding flower lasts 1-2 weeks, and a clump blooms over 3-4 weeks. The flowering stalks rise ahead of the pitchers so the blooms stand clear of the traps.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green with red veinsGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in a 50:50 mix of sphagnum peat and horticultural sand or perlite, kept constantly wet with rainwater or distilled water. Stand the pot in 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of low-mineral water during the growing season and water from below. Full sun for at least 6 hours deepens the red coloration, while shade yields taller, greener, weaker pitchers. A winter dormancy of 3-4 months at 35-50°F (2-10°C) is required, during which water is reduced. Conventional fertilizer and mineral-rich tap water kill the roots, so the plant relies on trapped insects for nutrients. Aphids and the larvae of the pitcher-plant moth sometimes damage the pitchers.Pruning
Trim away dead or browned pitchers at the rhizome in late winter before new growth begins. Remove flower stalks after the blooms fade unless seed is wanted. Cutting back tired pitchers during the season does not harm the rhizome, since fresh traps keep forming.Pruning Schedule
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons