Sarracenia 'Redbug' PP13412
Little Bug Series
Common Name: Pitcher Plant
'Redbug' PP13412 was selected by Rob Gardener, former curator of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, for its awesome vigor and ability to produce a large number of pitchers on a dwarf plant. It has red pitchers with deeper red veining and a slightly wavy or scalloped hood. When grown in more shade, the pitchers are green. In fact, the color varies with conditions in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and cultural conditions. 'Redbug' PP13412 is a hybrid of S. rubra x S. wherryi.
This plant is a member of the "Little Bug Series" of Sarracenia introduced by Plant Haven. This is a group of complex hybrids developed at the University of North Carolina. All memebers of this series have a dwarf, compact habit and freely form colorful pitchers.
Sarracenia, or Hybrid Pitcher Plants, are insectivorous (bug eating!) herbaceous perennials that can be found growing naturally in sunny, moist to boggy areas throughout the southeastern United States. They produce "pitchers" which are hollow, modified leaves covered with a "hood" to keep rainwater out and insects trapped inside.
Insects are attracted to pitcher plants by the intoxicating nectar they produce and become trapped by the downward pointing hairs on the inside of the pitcher. Once the insects fall into the pool of liquid in the base of the pitcher, they are digested by plant's enzymes. Nutrients from the decaying insects are absorbed and used to feed the roots, stems, and leaves of the plant.
This intriguing perennial has been cultivated for well over 100 years and continues to captivate the attention of children, bug lovers, and people who find great interest in the bizarre.