The Purple Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous plant that is native to eastern North America. It is the most common and broadly distributed pitcher plant. It is also the hardiest species and is the only one that grows in a cold temperate climate. It grows in eastern to western Canada and from New England down to the Carolinas and the Gulf Coast.
It is a perennial plant that has a cluster of pitcher-shaped leaves in a rosette that grow from a rhizome. The pitchers are burgundy-purple or light green with a network of dark purple veins. It grows in acidic peat bogs, savannas, and swamp margins. It is the floral emblem of the Canadian province of Labrador and Newfoundland. It is also called the Northern Pitcher Plant. Hardy in zones 2-8.
It is best grown in the wet soil of a bog garden or in containers with peaty soil. It needs full sun and an acidic, humusy muck that is constantly damp but not watery. Soils must never dry out, but plant crowns should not sit in water. Soil recommendations include peat or various mixes of peat/sand or peat/perlite.
Plants may also be grown in pots/containers (plastic best) placed outside on a sunny deck or patio area. Container soils can be 50% peat and 50% perlite/vermiculite. Potting soil and/or fertilizer may kill the plant. Containers should be placed in a tray of water that keeps the soil constantly moist.
I received my seeds. I have just planted them so I have not seen any growth but I am excited. They also gave me a tomatillo seed for free and I thought that was fun. They were packaged nicely and came in a timely fashion.
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