Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Catesby's Pitcher Plant: A Sunny Bog Garden Next to the Lavender
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Catesby's pitcher plant is a natural hybrid of the purple and yellow pitcher plants, and it borrows from both. Its broad, sturdy pitchers rise 8 to 10 inches tall and end in wide, wavy hoods netted with red veins, with hints of copper on the back. In spring, before the pitchers grow, nodding flowers open deep burgundy red and slowly turn chartreuse.
It is about as far from lavender as a plant can get underground. Lavender wants dry, lean soil; a pitcher plant wants its roots wet all the time. What they share is a love of full sun.
Catesby's pitcher plant at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Sarracenia × catesbaei |
| Pitchers | Yellow-green with red veining and copper tones; the pitchers are the foliage |
| Flowers | Nodding, about 2 inches across, burgundy red aging to chartreuse |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts late April, peaks mid-May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
Where it fits on a lavender property
Never put a pitcher plant in the lavender bed, and never put lavender in a bog. Instead, give Catesby's its own sunny feature: a small lined bog bed, a wide container sitting in a saucer of water, or the sunny edge of a pond. Placed within sight of the lavender, it makes a fun conversation stop, with dry, silver, fragrant plants on one side and wet, carnivorous ones on the other.
The pitchers stay colorful all season and catch insects as they go, which is their way of feeding in soil that has almost no nutrients. The Companion Plant Planner can help you place a bog feature in a sunny spot that is away from your lavender beds.
Building the right home
- Mix: peat moss and sand, low in nutrients. Never regular potting soil or compost.
- Water: rainwater or distilled water, and keep the mix wet at all times. Tap water minerals build up over time.
- Feeding: none. The plant feeds itself.
- Sun: full sun for strong color and sturdy pitchers. Summer heat is no problem as long as the soil never dries out.
- Cleanup: trim away old, browned pitchers in early spring before new growth starts.
- Pests: watch new growth for aphids, thrips, mealybugs or scale.
Winter in Michigan
Catesby's is hardy to zone 5 in a bog bed. After a hard frost, mulch it with pine straw or leaves and keep the soil moist. Container plants need a cold, protected dormancy below 40°F, such as an unheated garage or a sheltered spot where the pot will not dry out. Dead pitchers can rot during dormancy, so clear them away in spring.
About the plug tray
Catesby's is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, suited to growers and anyone planting a full bog garden. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to feed it insects?
No. Outdoors, it catches its own. Just give it sun, wet peat-and-sand mix and pure water.
Can I cut the flowers?
Yes, they last fairly well in a vase. You can also leave them, or cut off the seed pods after bloom.
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