Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’
Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’ is a commemoration of the venerable Adrian Slack, a gentleman who has written two books about carnivorous plant cultivation, Carnivorous Plants, and Insect-Eating Plants and How to Grow Them, among accomplishments in developing hundreds of cultivars. In fact, S. ‘Adrian Slack’ isn’t even the only plant named after him – he also has the species Drosera slackii named in his honor.
Barry Meyers-Rice, Peter D’Amato and Bob Hanrahan collaborated to pick a prime specimen from Bob’s collection that was worthy of the Slack name. They found one in a naturally-occurring hybrid that Bob discovered in the Milton area of western Florida in the 1980s. And it’s a beauty. Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’ was registered as an official cultivar on March 28th, 2000.
Parentage of this Sarracenia hybrid is unknown, but definitely includes some level of S. flava and S. leucophylla.
2018 Update: sad news – Adrian Slack has passed away. It’s a great loss to the carnivorous plant community, his friends and family. His contributions will live on, and his name will forever be tied to some of the world’s most fascinating and beautiful plants.
Unique biology of Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’
Trap characteristics
Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’ produces larger, S. flava-esque trumpet pitchers and there is a slight wave to the pitcher lid. Coloration is where this North American pitcher plant really shines, and where the S. leucophylla really stands out. The pitcher tube is heavily veined in a redish-pink hue and terminates in a bright pink and pronounced mouth. The lid of S. ‘Adrian Slack’ is a brilliant white with deep venation. If I were a bug, I’d totally land on that.
Other notable characteristics
Flowers of Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’ have light pink (borderline white) petals, and occasionaly exhibit yellow highlights.
S. ‘Adrian Slack’ is still fairly rare in cultivation, and specimen plants fetch a high price.
Other Sarracenia varieties, species & hybrids
Sarracenia ‘The Kraken’
Summon the Kraken! Sarracenia The Kraken is a monster readii x Royal Ruby hybrid from the gardens of Phil Faulisi. Don't turn your back on this pitcher plant, or you may get dragged under!
Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’
With a large, red, ruffled hood and gnarled, angled lip, S. Reptilian Rose is both beauty and beast. It's a cultivar from master breeder Phil Faulisi, and it's an absolute masterpiece.
Sarracenia ‘Alucard’
Sarracenia 'Alucard' is the magnificent progeny of S. flava rubicorpora and S. 'Royal Ruby'. Don't get it confused with a cultivar, though - only 'Prince of Darkness' holds that title.
Sarracenia ‘Black Widow’
A deep shade of purple, with venomous fangs, and a thirst for insects, Sarracenia 'Black Widow' is two of these three things. It is 100% beautiful, and an easy-grower!
Sarracenia moorei
The grex that wrecks the rest, Sarracenia moorei has little competition in the "humungous, gorgeous, and fast-growing" categories. It's a common-name grex that includes some of the most famous pitcher plants to date.
Sarracenia Leah Wilkerson
Sarracenia 'Leah Wilkerson' has the go-go-gadget pitchers of the naturally occurring Sarracenia hybrids. The plant's largest recorded pitchers are more easily measured in units of Godzilla than inches, coming in at 50 inches (130cm) tall.
Sarracenia saurus
Sarracenia ‘Saurus’ is the mythical monster moorei hybrid (S. leucophylla × flava var. ornata) that Phil Faulisi concocted in the spring of 2005. Everything is bigger on this pitcher plant - the height, the heft, the color, and the price tag!
Sarracenia Oreophila
Sarracenia Oreophila is commonly known as the Green Pitcher Plant and Mountain Trumpet pitcher plant, is the single most endangered N.A. pitcher plant, and needs your help surviving.
Sarracenia ‘Deep Throat’
What happens when a S. x excellens hybrid goes rogue? S. 'Deep Throat' happens, and brings with it a broad pitcher, huge mouth, and wide lid. What a beaut!
Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’
An exceedingly handsome and colorful plant named for Adrian Slack, a gentleman who contributes so much to the CP community. This North American pitcher plant does not disappoint!
Sarracenia flava var. cuprea
Commonly known as S. flava Coppertop, this is one attractive yellow trumpet pitcher plant. I know trumpets are made out of brass, but copper is close enough... right?
North American Pitcher Plant
The North American pitcher plant is a master of deception. Beautiful pitcher-shaped traps are actually intricate natural adaptations to capture and digest insects in order to uptake minerals otherwise lacking in soil.
Sarracenia purpurea
Sarracenia purpurea is commonly referred to as the purple pitcher plant and is arguably the most successful North American pitcher plant based on the size of its territory.
Sarracenia minor
is known as the hooded pitcher plant. To the human eye, it looks like a fairly typical North American pitcher plant, but with a lid that folds over the mouth. To the insect eye, it probably looks like the grim reaper in cloak.
Sarracenia leucophylla var. alba ‘Hurricane Creek White’
Sarracenia leucophylla var. alba 'Hurricane Creek White' Sarracenia leucophylla var. alba is a gorgeous variety of leucophylla and 'Hurricane Creek White' is a large, robust cultivar. Unfortunately, the name 'Hurricane Creek White' is meant [...]
Sarracenia flava var. rugelii
Known as the cutthroat pitcher plant due to the distinct blood red throat blotch. The coloration and high density of nectar glands at this location on the pitcher act as a lure for hungry insects. It's no coincidence that the blotch is located right above the plant's mouth.
Sarracenia flava (bronze x coppertop)
Sarracenia flava (bronze x coppertop) As the name would suggest, Sarracenia flava (bronze x coppertop) is a hybrid pitcher plant. It takes two spectacular parents, S. flava bronze and S. flava coppertop, crosses them, [...]
Sarracenia flava var. flava
Sarracenia flava var. flava Sarracenia flava is commonly referred to as the Yellow Trumpet plant. This common name captures the essence of tall flowering stalks (visibly similar to the "tuning slide" of a trumpet) [...]
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Sarracenia ‘Judith Hindle’
Sarracenia 'Judith Hindle' This gorgeous cultivar was bred by Alan Hindle in England and named after his wife by Peter D'Amato of California Carnivores. Parents of S. 'Judith Hindle' are from two separate clones [...]