Pitcher plant (Sarracenia 'Scarlett Belle')
Spectacular Sarracenia 'Scarlett Belle' Pitcher plant is a carnivorous perennial requiring bog conditions and full sun for best growth.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ Pitcher plant is a celebrated, vigorous carnivorous perennial, highly valued for its striking modified leaves that trap and digest insects. As a purposeful hybrid, this Pitcher plant offers rich coloration, making it a dazzling focal point in specialized gardens. Its success hinges on strict adherence to specific cultural requirements, mimicking its native bog environment.
Mature clumps of Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ reach about 10 inches tall and spread to one foot, producing upright pitchers often featuring white coloration contrasted with deep red venation, which intensifies in the fall. Gardeners are rewarded with seasonal interest from spring flowers followed by summer-long pitcher production. Cultivating the Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ is highly specialized but offers unique horticultural rewards for the dedicated enthusiast.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Sarraceniaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.5-0.75 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1 ft
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Bloom Description: Maroon red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Wet
- Maintenance Level: High
How to Grow
The primary cultivation focus for Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ is faithfully recreating bog conditions, which means high moisture and acidic soil. The ideal setting is a prepared bog garden, sited in a location protected from harsh winter winds. If a bog is infeasible, growing the Pitcher plant in containers provides the next best alternative.
For soil, utilize an acidic, humusy muck that must remain constantly damp; never allow the substrate to dry out. Recommended mixes include Canadian peat, or mixtures of peat combined with sand or perlite. Plants demand full sun to develop proper coloration; part shade results in drooping pitchers and muted color development, negatively impacting the Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’.
Watering must be consistent. Containers should be placed in a tray of water to ensure the soil remains perpetually moist. Pruning is limited to removing spent foliage; in cold climates, trim back any leaves or pitchers that die back as winter approaches, ensuring you only cut dead tissue. Avoid fertilizing entirely, as potting soil or fertilizer can quickly kill the plant.
Plants have a horizontal rhizome and produce pitchers throughout the summer, usually dying back as winter nears. For overwintering containers, insert them into the soil up to the rim in a protected area, mulching the soil surface with pine needles for insulation against extreme cold.
Landscape Uses
The best use for the Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ is within a dedicated bog garden where its need for continuous wetness can be easily met alongside other moisture-loving specimens. While primarily sold for use as a Water Plant, their compact, upright nature also makes them excellent additions to contained environments.
If planting in containers, plastic pots are often best. These containers can be placed on sunny decks or patios, situated in water trays to maintain ideal soil saturation. While it is possible to grow them outside in low, continuously moist spots, success is often limited due to fluctuating moisture levels outside of a purposefully built microenvironment.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
The Sarracenia genus comprises around 11 species of carnivorous herbaceous perennials native to eastern US bogs and pine savannas, trapping insects in specialized pitcher-shaped leaves for nourishment. ‘Scarlett Belle’ is a high-performing hybrid, specifically developed from crosses involving Sarracenia leucophylla and S. Psittacina, resulting in compact growth and attractive hooded pitchers. This vigorous Pitcher plant deepens its attractive red venation in the fall and displays maroon red flowers in spring, making it a prized collector’s plant.
Tolerances
- Wet Soil
Potential Problems
The most significant hazard to Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ is failing to meet its strict cultural needs, particularly concerning water and light. Plants will decline rapidly if the soil dries out or if they receive inadequate sunlight, leading to poor coloring and droopy pitchers. Do not attempt to apply manual feeding or fertilizer, as these practices are detrimental to carnivorous plants.
Pest issues occasionally include aphids, scale, and mealybugs, which can be managed by inspecting plants regularly. Fungal issues like leaf spot and root rot commonly appear when air circulation is poor combined with excessive humidity or improper watering techniques during dormancy. Protect plants from strong, freezing winter winds, although general winter hardiness is usually sufficient in appropriate zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Pitcher plant suitable for?
The Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ is hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9.
How large does Pitcher plant grow?
This Pitcher plant typically achieves a height between 0.5 to 0.75 feet and spreads from 0.75 to 1 foot wide at maturity.
What sun exposure does Pitcher plant need?
This species requires full sun exposure; growth and coloration suffer significantly in partial shade.
When does Pitcher plant bloom?
Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ blooms in the spring, generally from April to May, producing maroon red flowers.
Conclusion
The Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ Pitcher plant offers unparalleled visual appeal for gardeners willing to commit to its high-maintenance requirements, particularly constant moisture and intense sunlight. Providing this specialized bog environment ensures you enjoy the vigorous growth and distinct insect-trapping architecture of your Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’. Before planting, confirm your hardiness zone compatibility and ensure you have a suitable, sunny, perpetually damp location prepared.
Companion Planting
When designing a bog garden for your Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’, select other acid-loving, moisture-tolerant companions. Excellent partners include other carnivorous species like Sundews (Drosera) or Butterworts (Pinguicula), as they share identical soil and water needs. Consider adding native bog irises or specialized sedges, provided they do not outcompete the lower-growing Pitcher plant for precious sunlight.
Propagation Tips
Propagation of the Sarracenia ‘Scarlett Belle’ is most easily achieved through division of the horizontal rhizome. This is best done in the spring just as new growth is emerging, or during repotting in late winter before the major growth surge. Carefully separate rooted sections, ensuring each division retains a portion of the rhizome and adequate roots. Alternatively, seeds can be collected from mature flowers, but this method results in plants that take several years to reach maturity and will not reliably express the exact characteristics of the named cultivar.
