Sarracenia Oreophila – The Green Pitcher Plant, or Mountain Trumpet
While the name Sarracenia Oreophila may conjure up images of abundant, chocolatey treats with cream filling, this North American pitcher plant is more known for a distinct and unfortunate lack of abundance, green coloration that’s closer to salad than Oreo cookies, and as a general rule, is stuffed more with insects than cream filling.
Sarracenia Oreophila is commonly known as the Green Pitcher Plant, or Mountain Trumpet pitcher plant and produces early spring and summer pitchers reaching 24 inches (60 cm) tall. It is extremely cold-hardy (survives drops to 0°F/-18°C) and adapted for inland snowy, mountainous conditions. The plant bequeaths a certain vigor to hybridized offspring unseen in other Sarracenia hybrids, contributing to great pitcher size and vibrant coloration.
Important Note:
Sarracenia Oreophila is the single most endangered North American Pitcher Plant, limited to around 34 small sites in Tennessee (may actually be extinct in this area), North Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Alabama. Some of these sites contain less than 50 plants each. S. Oreophila is listed as Endangered and you’ll need CITES permits to purchase it across state or country lines. There are plans in place to protect existing populations, and Atlanta Botanical Gardens has a propagation program underway for wilderness reintroduction. Click here to learn about their conservation efforts, and consider donating to the cause. Please be careful if you choose to purchase S. Oreophila, and only do so from reputable nurseries and with appropriate permits. Ex-situ conservation, or the preservation of S. Oreophila in cultivation, is important for the future of the species.
Unique biology of Sarracenia Oreophila
Trap characteristics
As its common name suggests, Sarracenia Oreophila produces bright green pitchers. Some varieties have little-to-no venation, while others are known to produce heavy red venation and throat sploches similar to those found on S. flava var. flava. The plant has a distinct outurned hood that gracefully arcs over its insect-devouring mouth.
Sarracenia Oreophila is an early to rise, early to bed kind of plant. It simultaneously flowers and pitchers early in the spring growth season, but does so only until about mid-summer, when the plant resorts to phyllodia production. Phyllodia are a secondary type of flat leaf structure that allows the plant to photosynthesis without using precious resources for full pitcher production. It is an adaptation to naturally drier July months and even captive plants kept wet year-round will cease pitcher production early and resort to early seasonal phyllodia growth. And yes, simultaneous pitcher and flower production means the plant feasts on confused pollinators. I’m pretty sure S. Oreophila is the precise definition od pollinator “frenemy.”
Other notable characteristics
There are three recognized varieties and cultivars;
- Sarracenia oreophila var. oreophila – the most abundant wild variety, it has bright green pitchers with mild red venation on the interior of the upper pitcher, neck, and lid. This is the variety featured in the photos on this page.
- Sarracenia oreophila ‘Don Schnell’ – a variety selected for by Peter D’Amato of California Carnivores, this plant is heavily veined, and has a deep red throat splotch. Keep in mind that this plant was selected for in a private collection, and not one identified in wild populations. There are no known live examples of the plant, and it is thought to be extinct.
- Sarracenia oreophila var. ornata – sometimes referred to as Sarracenia oreophila “Sand Mountain,” this variety is close to extinction in the wild. Its pitchers are heavily veined with red and purple, and the mouth can have a dark purple opening and lip.
Other Sarracenia varieties, subspecies & hybrids
Sarracenia flava var. rubicorpora
Sarracenia flava var. rubicorpora Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora, also known as the Red Tube Trumpet Pitcher Plant, is a cultivar of the Sarracenia flava species and is native to the southeastern United States. It [...]
Sarracenia psittacina
Forget growing tall. Never mind growing squat. Sarracenia psittacina is unique in its horizontal approach to pitcher production. Also... is it just me or do those pitchers look like wee baby parrots..?
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) [...]