Practical
Plants

Sarracenia purpurea

Pitcher Plant

a perennial evergreen member of the Sarracenia genus in the family Sarraceniaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root and leaves are diuretic, hepatic, laxative, stomachic and tonic[10][12][7]. They are used in the treatment of dyspepsia, constipation, liver and kidney complaints[12]. A cold decoction of the whole plant has been used in the treatment of whooping cough[8]. An infusion of the dried leaves has been used in the treatment of fevers and shakiness[8]. An infusion of the leaves has been used to make childbirth easier and also for sickness associated with an absence of menstrual periods[8]. An infusion of the leaves was at one time considered to be a cure for smallpox[10][8], though this has never been substantiated[10]. An infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of smallpox[5][6], there are conflicting reports as to its effectiveness[6]. A decoction of the root has been given to women to help expel the afterbirth and to prevent sickness after childbirth[8]. A strong decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of spitting blood and pulmonary complaints[8].

Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hepatic
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Oxytoxic
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Women's complaints

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Labrador, south to Kentucky, Iowa and Florida. Naturalized in C. Ireland[2].
Habitat
Sphagnum bogs and peaty barrens[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but would suggest sowing the seed in light shade in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if possible otherwise in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Division might be possible.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Grow in sun or partial shade in peat or moss[3]. Requires a moist but well-drained position[10]. Plants require continuously moist conditions in a loose compost of sphagnum peat, live sphagnum and coarse acid sand[9]. They can be grown successfully in a plastic basin or in a pot that is standing in a deep saucer of water[9]. An insectivorous plant[12], it is best grown in a boggy position[1] in a soil that is low in nitrogen. The leaves form cups which become filled with water in which insects become trapped, drown and are digested by the plant[10]. A very ornamental and polymorphic plant[4], it is becoming very rare in the wild and is on the CITES II list of endangered species.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  3. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  5. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

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  6. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

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  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  9. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

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