Sarracenia Colin Clayton (Pitcher Plant)
Sarracenia ‘Colin Clayton’ (Pitcher Plant) is a carnivorous perennial prized for its upright, slender, yellow-green pitchers becoming wonderfully pigmented apricot-orange towards their top as they mature. Both the throat and frilly lid are innervated with attractive purplish-red veins, creating a very nice effect. In spring, before the pitchers fully develop, downward-facing red flowers with greenish-yellow tinges rise singly atop leafless stalks. Colin Clayton has the nice habit of producing a good number of pitchers. Pitcher Plant is very effective at trapping and killing insects. Lured by the attractive leaf color, insects that land on the lids get paralyzed by the nectar. They fall down into a digestive fluid at the bottom of the pitcher where they will decompose and nutrients get absorbed. This plant is best grown in the consistently moist soils of a bog garden or in containers. It is a great addition to the neutral to acid water garden.
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
- Grows up to 12-24 in. tall and wide (30-60 cm).
- Thrives in full sun in consistently moist to wet, acid soil. Irrigate with lime-free water and do not fertilize plantings. Soils must never dry out, but plant crowns should not sit for prolonged periods in water. Mulch with pine needles in winter to protect plants from cold temperatures.
- Generally disease free. Keep an eye out for scale insects, mealybugs, aphids and tortrix moth.
- Propagate by division.
Requirements
Hardiness | 6 – 8 |
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Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Sarracenia – Pitcher Plants |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Height | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 18″ – 24″ (45cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | High |
Maintenance | High |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Semi-Evergreen |
Native Plants | United States, Southeast |
Tolerance | Wet Soil |
Garden Uses | Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |