Carnivorous Pale Pitcher Plant Sarracenia alata Seeds

Sarracenia alata

Carnivorous Plant Seeds

Pale Pitcher Plant

Despite its less than exciting name, the Pale Pitcher Plant (sometimes called Pale Trumpet), like all the Pitcher plant varieties, is a very unique and interesting species. Native only to southern USA, this variety has very slender, tall pitchers between 2-3' high. Leaves are yellow-green with some red veining - some are more veined than others and generally it varies depending on the amount of sun they receive. By late summer most Pale Pitchers take on a deeper red color. The pale yellow flowers are similar to those of the Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava) but are somewhat smaller with shorter petals. This is a carnivorous species that traps insects as a source of additional nutrients. To do this, the plant uses its upright folded leaves or "pitchers" which are half full of water, with sticky juice near the top. The juice attracts insects, which crawl into the "pitcher" and become trapped and are then "consumed" by the plant. A rare variety, these unusual plants are fun to grow.