Yellow Pitcher Plant Sarracenia flava 50 Seeds

The Yellow Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous plant that is native to the eastern and southeastern United States. It is one of the largest pitcher plants, with leaves that can be over 3 feet tall. It can form spectacular colonies with hundreds of pitchers in open, wet savannas in the South. These colonies often grow with a great variety of other carnivorous plants including other species of pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts and native orchids. Hardy in zones 6-10.

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.

Growing Instructions for the Yellow Pitcher Plant

Sarracenias need full sun and wet soil. Sarracenia species are fairly easy to grow from seed if you have patience. The seeds have a period of dormancy. They can be planted outdoors in the fall or winter for spring germination or they can be cold stratified to simulate winter conditions and to break their dormancy at any time of the year. The seeds can be planted outdoors in the fall in a 6 pot filled with a peat/sand mix. Put the pot in a tray of water. Keep the water tray filled with water so the soil does not dry out. Water the seeds with rainwater or with distilled water. The seeds should sprout in the spring. 1. To stratify the seeds put the seeds in a small plastic bag with a small amount of finely chopped sphagnum moss. Live sphagnum moss is best for the seeds. If sphagnum moss is not available then use peat moss. Dampen the sphagnum moss with purified water. The sphagnum moss should be damp but there should not be excess water in the bag. The seeds need air to germinate. 2. Put the bag in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. 3. The stratified seeds should be grown in a mix of peat and sand. 4. Put a mixture of peat and sand in a pot. 5. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil. Put a water tray under the pot and keep it filled with water. The best temperature for germination is 70-80 degrees F. The seeds should germinate in 2-4 weeks.