Discover the Timeless Charm of Sarracenia Flava in Your Garden.
Sarracenia Flava is a garden favorite. It is fairly easy to distinguish from other sarracenia varieties by it’s tall upright pitchers and it’s huge bright yellow flowers in the spring. The pitchers often reach 34” tall and have broad hoods and lack of white patches. The narrow base of the hood has sides that roll back until nearly touching.
There are seven distinct varieties of Sarracenia flava found in nature.
1)Sarracenia flava var. flava
Sarracenia flava var flava can be identified by it’s deep red to purple pigment in pitcher throat with also red venation radiating from this over lid and upper pitcher tube. Commonly found in North Carolina and South Carolina., rarely in southeast virginia
2) Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea
The Lid and external pitcher tube are a deep red with the inside of the pitchers greenish to pale tan. interior pale tan. While not a common variant, atropurpurea can be found in the Atlantic coastal plain of North Carolina and South Carolina and sometimes in the Florida pan handle
3) Sarracenia flava var maxima
Sarracenia flava var maxima is unusual in that the pitchers are green with no red venation or red coloration of throat. Interestingly though is they are not anthocyanin-free. The maxima does have some red pigment usually around the base of the pitchers. Maxima is not very common in the wild but can be found in North Carolina and South Carolina, and sometimes in north Florida.
4) Sarracenia flava var. ornata
Often called Heavy Vein, Flava var ornate has very strong and deep venation throughout the entire plant. Its often found in North ad South Carolina coastal plain area and infrequently in north Florida.
5) Sarracenia flava var. rugelii
Flava var. Rugelii has a larger mouth opening than other flava, as well as a larger lid. But the most striking feature is the very prominent deep red to purple pigment under the hood and throat areas. Found in southern Georgia and northwestern Florida.
6) Sarracenia flava L. var. cuprea
Cuprea means copper. The external lid of this pitcher is a copper or rust colored, sometimes extending down the pitcher a few inches. Found in the Southeastern coastal plains, mostly in North Carolina and South Carolina, and rarely into northwestern Florida
7) Sarracenia flava L. var. rubricorpora
This sarracenia has an extremely dark red pitcher tube with the inside being yellowish, the lid yellow-green with red venation. Most commonly found in North and South Carolina, and into northern Florida