• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Cure Nursery

Native Plants of the Southeast

  • Home
  • Native Plant Library
    • Search by Plant Characteristics
    • Search by Scientific Name
    • Search by Common Names
  • Availability & Pricing
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Sarracenia x 'Daina's Delight'
Daina's Delight

Photo by Cure Nursery

‘Daina’s Delight’ is one of the largest and showiest of the carnivorous pitcherplants we sell at Cure Nursery, with beautiful pitchers up to 3 feet tall. The pitcher consists of a green to rusty red throat or tube, that begins the season deep red but later sports a striking white, ruffled hood (pinkish in the sun) with bold red venation. Although ‘Daina’s Delight’ is a hybrid (Sarracenia leucophylla x Sarracenia x willisii) developed in New Zealand, it’s genes are local as the genus Sarracenia is endemic to North America! The flowers of ‘Daina’s Delight’ are a deep red and dangle from a tall, upright stem, drooping down to form an upside down umbrella shape. Sarracenias evolved to thrive in nutrient poor habitats and meet their nitrogen and phosphorus needs from the insects trapped in the pitchers. ‘Daina’s Delight’ is easily grown in 50/50 peat moss and perlite or sand kept reliably moist with rainwater or deionized water (NO fertilizer), in full sun out of doors, or in a sunny bog garden where it can have access to winter temperatures. Some folks grow Sarracenias in pots indoors (set in a tray of water) and overwinter them in an unheated garage or outbuilding.

Last Updated: June 30, 2019

Key Info

Scientific Name: Sarracenia x 'Daina's Delight'
Common Names: Daina's Delight
Family Name: Sarraceniaceae
Plant Type: Bog Plants, Herbaceous perennial
Uses: Bog garden, Container
Light Requirement: Full sun
Moisture Requirement: Wet, Moist well drained
Bloom Times: Apr, May
Flower Color: Red
Special Characteristics: Rhizomatous, Cold tolerant, Carnivorous, Bog plant

Additional Info

Habit: Sarracenias are clump-forming herbaceous perennials that grow as rosettes from a branching rhizome, forming colonies and containing fibrous roots 8-12 inches long along its length. The pitchers are modified leaves that (in addition to their function of photosynthesis) attract and entrap their insect prey by means of colorful presentation and nectar production (like flowers) and modifications to prevent escape. Wikipedia has a concise treatment of Sarracenia's entrapment mechanisms.
Height: 2'-3'
Spread: 1'-2'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil Conditions: Moist or wet, nutrient-poor, peaty, acidic soils.
Leaves: Semi-deciduous, upright pitcher-shaped leaves with "lid" on the top which prevents excess water pooling in the pitcher. Leaves are maroon at the base with dark red lacy veins at the white top. 'Dana's Delight' also has non-carnivorous, sword-shaped leaves which photosynthesize. The showiest pitchers are formed in the fall .
Flowers (or reproductive structures): In spring, the drooping flowers on 20" stems are green. Over time they will darken to a deep pink in full sun, resembling an upside down umbrella. Flowers are held above the pitchers, avoiding entrapment of pollinators.
Fruit: The seed pod forms at the top of the upside-down umbrella (flower) is a dry capsule that splits open along 5 seams at maturity (June/July) exposing from 20-300 small, papery, pear-shaped seeds. The seeds fall near the parent plant. Seeds of 'Dana's Delight' will not be true. Propagate by division.
Natural Distribution: Sarracenias live in any permanently moist site including swamps, lake edges, river banks, boggy pine forests, or other low-lying areas. They cannot live in permanently flooded areas, but survive well in areas that experience temporary seasonal floods and submersion. They cannot tolerate long-term drought.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: OBL
Pollination: Bees, and other insects.
Wildlife Connections: Obtains nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) from insects. Insects and other tiny creatures are attracted by the nectar and coloration of the traps. The main prey of Sarracenias are ants, flies, wasps, bees, beetles, slugs and snails.
Propagation: A hybrid cross, 'Dana's Delight' is propagated by division.
Other Notes: Dana's Delight' can tolerate cold winters but when temps fall below 20F leaves are vulnerable and should be covered in plastic to prevent frost burn.
USDA/NRCS Plant Distribution Map: View Map at USDA.gov
View All Plant Availability & Pricing

Footer

contact us

facebook.com/curenursery
curenursery@gmail.com
Office/Jen/Bill:  919-542-6186

Who we are

Cure Nursery is a small nursery propagating and selling native plants for the Southeastern U.S. We are located near the town of Pittsboro, Chatham County, in central NC.

our hours

Cure Nursery operates by appointment only. Call us or email us to place an order for pick up or to arrange a time to come visit the nursery.

Copyright © 2022 Cure Nursery · All Rights Reserved · Resources · Website by Tomatillo Design