Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Conversation Piece Pitcher Plant: Tall Red-Hooded Trumpets
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Conversation Piece pitcher plant lives up to its name. Its slender, tube-shaped pitchers stand about two feet tall, lime green along most of their length and topped with rounded red hoods laced with dark red veins. In fall they darken to burgundy with black veining and white patches near the top, so the show changes as the season goes on.
It catches its own insects and wants its roots wet at all times, which is the exact opposite of lavender. Grow it as a separate bog feature in the same sunny part of the garden.
Conversation Piece at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Sarracenia × moorei 'Conversation Piece' |
| Pitchers | Lime green tubes with red, veined hoods; burgundy with black veins in fall |
| Flowers | Nodding red flowers, 2 to 3 inches wide, on tall single stems |
| Size | 24 to 26 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late April, peaks mid-May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
A bog feature near the lavender
Lavender and pitcher plants agree on one thing: they both want full, hot sun. Everything below ground is opposite. So rather than mixing them, set up a small bog garden or a wet container in the same sunny area, close enough that visitors walk from fragrant lavender to carnivorous trumpets in a few steps. It is a fun contrast and an easy conversation starter, as the name suggests.
At two feet tall, Conversation Piece gives a bog planting real height, and its red hoods glow in late-day light. Place your bog feature with the Companion Plant Planner.
Setting up a container bog
- Choose a wide pot with no drainage hole, or set a pot with holes in a deep saucer.
- Fill with a mix of peat moss and sand. Skip compost, fertilizer and regular potting soil.
- Plant the plug and water with rainwater or distilled water until the mix is soaked.
- Set it in full sun and keep an inch or so of water in the saucer all season.
The pitchers color best in hot, sunny summers with constant moisture.
Winter care
In the ground, Conversation Piece is hardy to zone 5 in a bog bed. Mulch with pine straw after a hard frost and keep the soil wet. Container plants need a cold, protected dormancy below 40°F, such as an unheated garage, without drying out. In early spring, trim away old, browned pitchers before new growth begins; dead pitchers left in place can rot during dormancy.
About the plug tray
Conversation Piece is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a good fit for planting a full bog garden or several containers. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my pitchers turning dark red?
That is the fall color. The lime tubes darken to burgundy with black veins and white patches as the weather cools.
Can I grow it as a houseplant?
Not well. It needs full sun all summer and a cold winter dormancy to thrive.
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