Fun Find
Pitcher Plant
Grown locally by Maple Valley Nursery, this is a cultivar of the North American Pitcher Plant which is native to the US Gulf and East coasts, from Texas to New England.
Due to their carnivorous nature, they can be found in the wild growing and thriving in poor soil that is regularly leached of nutrients by water flow. Clever pitcher plants produce nectar that attracts insects to the edge of their tubular leaves, where a slippery surface causes them to fall in and renders them unable to climb out. As the insect bodies decompose, pitcher plants absorb all of the nutrients they need. For this reason, if grown outdoors, pitcher plants should not be fertilized, and prefer to be planted in a mixture of peat moss and sand (acidic, low nutrient soil mix), in full or partial sun. The soil must be kept moist. Pitcher plants can also be grown in ponds if the crown is kept above the water line.
Pitcher plants are hardy to around 20 degrees. They require a dormant period in winter, during which time it is common for the foliage to die back completely. They can be overwintered indoors in a sunny, unheated room or garage. Be sure to keep the soil moist, even during dormancy.
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