The Pitcher Plant Project

Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ x rosea “Big Mama” – the sole survivor.

-Meet The Parents-

  
Left: S. ‘Reptilian Rose’  |  Right: S. rosea “Big Mama”

In 2011 I did a cross between Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ and Sarracenia rosea “Big Mama” – (parents photographed above). I only got about 10-15 seeds from this cross and was eventually left with with only ONE survivor (in the photograph). As a side note – the pod was ripe earlier than most other crosses. I knew it was ready because the pod cracked open and I saw a couple of seeds sprouting INSIDE the pod! Yes, it happens. I have no idea why, but it does from time to time. This is why this particular seedling looks a few months older than the others that I started later in the year. I took those 2 or 3 that sprouted early and planted them in a separate pot letting them do their thang, while taking the rest into cold stratification to be sown later. Those that sprouted early were doing OK. Really. They were. But because of the crappy conditions and moving that I recently had to go through — all but one survived. And as far as those other seeds? Welllll… those never sprouted, so I tossed that pot. Ehhhh, shit happens.

S. ‘Reptilian Rose’ was used as the pod parent, and I hope that it can exert a strong influence on this seedling. My luck with using S. ‘Reptilian Rose’ as a pod parent in hybrids hasn’t been very good. I get no pollen at all! And when using the plant as the pod parent, I typically get only a few seeds (10-20) and as with any set of seed, not all those seeds may make it to germination. (UGH DAYMN!! WTF!!) Things don’t always work out the way we want them to in breeding or in the garden — or even in life for that matter. We just roll with it and make the best of what we’re dealt.

When I did this cross, I was aiming for a maniacal looking Sarracenia catesbaei-ish type looking hybrid with that angular nectar roll characteristic of S. ‘Reptilian Rose’ and a large wing (or “ala”) from S. rosea “Big Mama”. I am hoping also that the sheer rotund-ness from S. “Big Mama” will be seen in this cross as well. The plant currently is too young to be able to see any characteristics, but I’ll update y’all again later once something note-worthy happens. I’ll link back to this post in the future once this baby grows up a bit.

Hopefully, I have the opportunity to re-make the cross again in the future.