Culture
Strict adherence to the cultural needs of this plant is essential. In residential areas, this plant is best grown in the consistently moist soils of a bog garden. The bog garden should be prepared in advance of planting. In the St. Louis area, the bog garden should be sited in a protected location with a winter mulch. If a bog garden is not available, then growing plants in containers may be the next best option. Plants require full sun. In part shade, leaf coloring does not develop as it should and pitchers droop. Plants need an acidic, humusy muck that is constantly damp but not watery. Soils must never dry out, but plant crowns should not sit for prolonged periods in water. Soil recommendations include Canadian peat or mixes of peat/sand or peat/perlite. Irrigation hoses and underground liners should be considered. Plants have a horizontal rhizome. Plants flower in spring, produce new pitchers in spring-summer and the pitchers mostly die back as winter approaches. In cold climates, trim leaves back in winter as pitchers die, but only trim dead tissue. Linear, sword-shaped leaves may remain evergreen in winter. Soil may be mulched with pine needles in winter to protect plants from cold temperatures. Most reproduction comes from continuous budding along the rhizome as opposed to self-seeding. Easiest propagation is by rhizome division. Plants may be grown from seed with effort, but will not flower for the first 4-5 years. 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. Containers may be overwintered by inserting them to the rim in soil in protected locations. Dig up containers in spring to place back in full sun areas. Containers may also be brought inside in winter with somewhat reduced watering. Plants need full sun in the growing season and cold temperatures in winter dormancy, hence they simply do not grow well as houseplants. Do not collect these plants from the wild.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Sarracenia × moorei is a naturally occurring hybrid pitcher plant resulting from a cross between S. leucophylla and S. flava. Can be found in the wild where the native ranges of the two parent species overlap, namely in portions of southern Alabama and Georgia and the western edge of the Florida panhandle. Occurs in bogs, wet seeps, moist pine woods, and roadsides. The hollow, upright, tubular pitchers are modified leaves that emerge from a short rhizome and reach 1.5-2' tall. Their coloration can be variable, ranging from green to maroon red, and depends largely on the characteristics of the parents. This species also produces a second type of leaves that are long, slender, and linear known as winter leaves or phyllodia. Red and green, nodding blooms appear in spring. Synonymous with Sarracenia × mooreana.
The genus name Sarracenia honors Dr. Michael Sarrazan (1659-1734) of Quebec who reportedly sent the first pitcher plants to Europe around 1700.
The hybrid name moorei honors David Moore (1808-1879), Scottish botanist and Director of the Royal Dublin Society's Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, today known as the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. He successfully completed the first artificial cross of Sarracenia leucophylla and S. flava in 1868.
'Conversation Piece' features 2-2.25' tall pitchers with maroon red hoods. The hoods have dark purple-red venation and undulating margins. The nodding blooms are deep red.
Problems
Plants will do poorly if specific cultural requirements are not followed. Protect from strong freezing winds. Winter hardiness is generally not a problem in the St. Louis area for this plant. Feeding plants manually is not advisable. Do not fertilize plantings. Watch for aphids, scale, mealybugs, moth larvae, leaf spot and root rot. Pitcher plants in the wild often exhibit poor growth in years with dry springs, with some rhizomes remaining dormant for the entire growing season.
Uses
Bog garden is best. Also may be grown in containers, greenhouses or as an indoor houseplant. Perhaps too tall for terraria. Growth in containers as an indoor plant can be difficult because of the need for growing season sun and winter dormancy. May be grown outside in low spots or other continuously moist locations, but this can be difficult and is not recommended.