Sarracenia ‘Alucard’
“Sarracenia ‘Alucard’ is a pitcher plant cultivar of mighty proportions and fantastic color!” you might exclaim, and… you’d be kind-of… wrong. S. ‘Alucard’ is, in fact, of mighty proportions and fantastic color. However, the name ‘Alucard’ is not a cultivar, but rather a grex name. Where it gets a little tricky, is when we start discussing S. ‘Prince of Darkness’ which is an as-of-yet officially registered cultivar within the grex of S. ‘Alucard.’ The rabbit hole is deep.
Quick refresher for you – a plant falls within a grex simply if it shares the same parents with the other plants within that grex and reasonably resembles the originally described plant. So, any tall, dark, and deadly pitcher plant made by pollinating a Sarracenia flava var. rubicorpora with S. ‘Royal Ruby’ (itself a S. moorei cultivar) is a S. ‘Alucard.’ They do not have to be plants that are genetically or phenotypically identical to the original to be considered part of the grex.
Cultivar status is more strict than that of a grex. A cultivar has to cary the exact same traits as the originally-described plant, normally only possible through vegetative propagation (via cuttings/divisions and not sexually through flowers). Dividing a Sarracenia rhizome results in a genetic clone of the parent plant which is the most accepted way to produce offspring capable of bearing the cultivar title. All plants carrying the S. ‘Prince of Darkness’ name are therefore identical because they can all be traced back to a single plant from which they were vegetatively propagated.
I think the general confusion on this particular grex vs. cultivar issue stems from the grex name, itself. ‘Alucard’ isn’t all Latin-ie like moorei or readii or mitchelliana, so folks assume it must be a cultivar name. 🤷♂️
Still with me? Ok, below is a description of the Sarracenia ‘Alucard’ grex as described by Travis H. Wyman on December 2nd, 2008, and published in volume 38 of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter.
Sarracenia ‘Alucard’ is a complex hybrid of S. flava var. rubricorpora × S. ‘Royal Ruby’, and was produced by Phil Faulisi. This cross was made in May of 2000 and the subsequent seed sown January 2001. Numerous offspring of this cross display the same character and traits described herein.
Unique biology of Sarracenia ‘Alucard’
Pitcher characteristics
In structure, the pitchers are similar to those of S. flava though the hoods tend to display a slight degree of ruffling alluding to the presence of S. leucophylla genes in the mix. Pitchers average 76 cm (30 inches) in height but can grow to 94 cm (37 inches) tall.
Under extremely high light and, most notably, under very bright greenhouse polycarbonate, the pitchers will turn a near complete deep reddish-black over their entirety. The hoods of some pitchers will occasionally show slight green patches, but this is not consistent within or between plants with some plants displaying many green-patched hoods one season and, few the next, while others will produce pitchers with the same lid type season after season and then suddenly revert to the opposite type. As the pitchers age, most turn a complete velvety black, very similar to the colour of cultivated “black” calla lilies.
The first photo, above, is the S. ‘Alucard’ cultivar ‘Prince of Darkness’ with a cameo by Phil Faulisi’s hand for scale.
Other notable characteristics
The flowers are yellow. Vegetative reproduction of these plants is recommended and preferred, however any offspring resulting from the crossing of a heavily red S. flava var. rubricorpora pollinated by S. ‘Royal Ruby’ that display the same black pitchers would also be considered to be S. ‘Alucard’.
The name Alucard is Dracula spelled backwards and was chosen because the appearance of this plant gives the impression of a dark ominous presence hovering over other accompanying pitcher plants when grown communally in bogs/grouped pots. The name was selected May 2004.
Fun fact: Sarracenia ‘Alucard’ is probably David’s (your humble Carnivorous Plant Resource manager) all-time favorite plant. Of all plants. Ever. His Alucard produces one glorious pitcher per growth point per season. But honestly, that’s all it needs because it’s so. dang. good.
Other Sarracenia 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) [...]
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 [...]