Sarracenia purpurea - Web page Navigation - Purple Pitcherplant Page

Discover the fascinating world of Sarracenia purpurea, the most commonly distributed carnivorous plant. Also known as the purple pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant, turtle socks, or side-saddle flower, this intriguing species has a wide native range including the Eastern seaboard, Gulf Coast and Great Lakes of the U.S, Canada (excluding Nunavut and Yukon), Washington state and Alaska. It's even become naturalized in parts Northern California, and has proliferated in parts of Ireland. As the only member of its genus that inhabits cold temperate climates, it is a marvel of adaptation. This unique plant captures prey such as flies, ants, spiders and moths, using an invertebrate community for digestion. Sarracenia purpurea comes in two subspecies and is leveraged for medicinal properties by Native American and First Nation tribes. Due to fire suppression in some areas, moth larvae infestations can be managed by burning last year's litter, highlighting the importance of natural events like fire in their habitat management. Experience the captivating world of Sarracenia purpurea!