Pitcher plants are some of the most eye-catching carnivorous plants you can grow, and many of them are great for beginners. But "pitcher plant" covers several very different kinds of plants. The two most popular are tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes) and North American pitcher plants (Sarracenia). Two more, sun pitchers (Heliamphora) and the Australian pitcher plant (Cephalotus), are less common but just as fascinating. They look a little alike, but they grow in completely different ways. This guide explains the differences, so you can pick the right one for your home and keep it happy.
The four types of pitcher plants at a glance
- Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants): Tropical plants that grow indoors year-round with no dormancy. Pitchers hang from the tips of their leaves. Keep them above about 50°F.
- Sarracenia (North American pitcher plants): Outdoor bog plants with tall, upright trumpet pitchers. They need lots of sun and take a winter dormancy, much like Venus flytraps.
- Heliamphora (sun pitchers): South American highland plants with tall, tube-shaped pitchers. They're pretty easy, much like Sarracenia. They grow year-round with no dormancy, and they like bright light, a little humidity, and nights that cool off naturally after sundown.
- Cephalotus (Australian pitcher plant): A small, low-growing plant with tiny, chunky pitchers, and the hardest pitcher plant to care for. It likes bright light, warm, steady temperatures and some humidity (about 30–50%), with no true dormancy.
All four need pure water and the right soil, and all four catch their own bugs.
How pitcher plants catch prey
Pitcher plants are pitfall traps. Instead of snapping shut or using sticky leaves, they grow hollow, cup-shaped leaves called pitchers. Bright colors and sweet nectar around the rim attract insects. The rim is slippery, so visitors lose their footing and fall in. Once inside, they can't climb back out, and the plant slowly digests them.
Nepenthes grow their pitchers at the end of a tendril that extends from each leaf. The pitchers hang down or sit on the ground, often with a little lid over the top, and hold a pool of digestive fluid.
Sarracenia grow their pitchers straight up from the soil. Many have a hood over the opening and downward-pointing hairs inside that keep prey moving down. Sarracenia purpurea is a little different: its pitchers grow outward in a low rosette instead of standing straight up.
Tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes)
If you want a pitcher plant for inside your home, start with Nepenthes. The hybrids we grow are hardy and beginner friendly, and they're hardened off to normal household conditions, so they need no special care. They grow indoors year-round and never need a winter dormancy. Just don't let them get too cold: keep them above about 50°F.
Nepenthes care basics
- Light: Bright, indirect light, like a bright window, or a grow light. If the leaves start to burn or get spotty red, the light is too intense.
- Water: Use only distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis (RO) water. Keep the mix moist, but not soaking wet.
- Soil: Long fiber sphagnum moss and perlite, sometimes with coco bark or other aerating ingredients.
- Temperature: Keep them above about 50°F. They're happiest when they stay warm.
- Humidity: Normal household humidity is fine. A little extra humidity goes a long way.
Our favorite beginner Nepenthes
- Nepenthes ventrata: the most beginner-friendly Nepenthes there is, a hardy hybrid with fast, vigorous growth and beautiful pitchers
- Nepenthes 'Bloody Mary': a great beginner plant with bright red pitchers and vigorous growth
- Nepenthes 'Lady Luck': another vigorous, easy grower with bright red pitchers
- Nepenthes 'Gaya': a nice, easy grower with red coloring and light spots
Browse all of our Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants), and see the Nepenthes care guide for more detail.
North American pitcher plants (Sarracenia)
Sarracenia are bog plants native to North America, and they love to grow outdoors. They're hardy outdoors in most US climates. In return, they ask for two things: lots of sun and a winter rest.
Sarracenia care basics
- Light: Full sun. Outdoors, aim for about 8 or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Indoors, use a strong grow light. Strong, upright, fully inflated pitchers are a sign of good light. Smaller, compact varieties like Sarracenia purpurea, 'Meerkat Mob' and 'White Wizard' can handle lower light too, just like Venus flytraps: about 6–8 hours of direct sun a day, or a strong grow light indoors.
- Water: Use only distilled, rain, or RO water. Sarracenia like to stay wet, so keep the pot sitting in a tray of water.
- Soil: Peat moss and perlite, or long fiber sphagnum moss. No fertilizer.
Live somewhere with harsh sun or very hot summers? Your Sarracenia can grow under a 30% shade cloth, as long as it still gets sun most of the day. That's how we grow ours: the pitchers may not get quite as red, but the plants grow big, stay happy and healthy, and don't burn.
Winter dormancy for Sarracenia
Outdoor Sarracenia go dormant from about late fall to early spring, just like Venus flytraps. Keep the plant cool, roughly 35–50°F, and keep the soil damp. The pitchers may brown and die back in winter. That's normal. Trim off the dead pitchers, and expect fresh new ones in spring. If you live in a harsh frozen zone, move them to a covered area, such as a basement, during the coldest weather, and bring them back out when it warms up a little.
Growing Sarracenia indoors under a grow light instead? If your plant gets 14 to 16 hours of grow light a day, don't force it into dormancy. It can keep growing through the winter.
Our favorite beginner Sarracenia
- Sarracenia purpurea: the purple pitcher plant, a hardy, colorful plant that grows outward in a low rosette and turns deep red or green with red veins in bright light
- Sarracenia 'White Wizard': a hardy, colorful plant that turns a mix of bright pink, red, white and green in bright light
- Sarracenia 'Meerkat Mob': a hardy, colorful plant that turns deep red or green with red veins in bright light
Browse all of our Sarracenia (North American pitcher plants), and see the Sarracenia care guide for more detail.
Sun pitchers (Heliamphora)
Heliamphora, often called sun pitchers, come from the tops of misty mountains in South America. Their pitchers are simple, upright tubes, often with a small "nectar spoon" at the top that lures insects in. Many turn beautiful shades of red and orange in good light. They grow year-round and never need a winter dormancy.
Sun pitchers are pretty easy to grow, much like Sarracenia. Here's what they need:
- Light: Bright light, about 10 hours a day, or a grow light on 14–16 hours a day.
- Water: Use only distilled, rain, or RO water. Keep the soil moist; the pot can sit in a tray of water.
- Soil: Long fiber sphagnum moss and perlite, mixed about 1:1. Live sphagnum is also great if you have it.
- Temperature: Nearly all are highland plants. They do best around 70–80°F during the day, with nights that cool off naturally once the sun goes down. You don't need any special cooling setup. Keep them above 40°F at minimum.
- Humidity: Just a little humidity is all they want.
See the Heliamphora care guide for more detail, or browse our Heliamphora (sun pitcher plants).
Australian pitcher plant (Cephalotus)
Cephalotus follicularis, the Australian pitcher plant, comes from southwestern Australia. It's the hardest pitcher plant to care for. It stays small and grows in a low clump, with flat green leaves plus tiny, chunky pitchers that have hairy ribs and a striped lid. In bright light, the pitchers turn a deep burgundy red.
- Light: Bright light, from a bright window or a grow light on 14–16 hours a day.
- Water: Use only distilled, rain, or RO water. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
- Soil: An airy, well-draining mix, such as peat moss with plenty of perlite.
- Temperature: Similar to intermediate Nepenthes: around 80–85°F during the day and 65°F or above at night. It can survive a mild frost, but avoid it if you can.
- Humidity: Some humidity, about 30–50%. That isn't extreme, but plants from sellers usually aren't acclimated to household air, so expect to give it some humidity until it adjusts.
Cephalotus is sensitive to big changes, so pick a good spot and let it settle in. See the Cephalotus care guide for more detail.
Which pitcher plant should you choose?
- Growing indoors on a windowsill or under a grow light? Start with a Nepenthes like ventrata or 'Gaya'.
- Have a sunny yard, patio or balcony? Sarracenia will love it outdoors, alongside your Venus flytraps.
- Want both? Many growers keep Nepenthes inside and Sarracenia outside.
- Want something different? Sun pitchers (Heliamphora) are pretty easy, much like Sarracenia. For a real challenge, try the Australian pitcher plant (Cephalotus), the hardest pitcher plant to care for.
Looking for more easy plants? Check out our Beginner Plants collection.
How your pitcher plant ships
Every plant ships potted and ready to grow. Small sizes ship in a 2.5" pot, and larger plants may ship in a bigger pot. During cold months, add a shipping heat pack to help protect your plant in transit.
Pitcher plant FAQ
What is the easiest pitcher plant for beginners?
For indoor growing, Nepenthes ventrata is one of the easiest pitcher plants there is. For outdoor growing, Sarracenia purpurea is a hardy, colorful choice. The hardest pitcher plant to care for is the Australian pitcher plant (Cephalotus).
Can I grow a pitcher plant indoors?
Yes. Nepenthes are the best choice for indoors, in bright, indirect light or under a grow light. Sarracenia can grow indoors too, but they need a strong grow light.
Do pitcher plants need a winter dormancy?
Nepenthes, Heliamphora and Cephalotus don't need a true dormancy, and they grow year-round. Outdoor Sarracenia do go dormant in winter, at roughly 35–50°F, like Venus flytraps. Sarracenia grown indoors under 14 to 16 hours of grow light a day can skip dormancy.
Which pitcher plants need humidity?
Nepenthes do fine in normal household humidity, and a little extra goes a long way. Sun pitchers (Heliamphora) want just a little humidity. The Australian pitcher plant (Cephalotus) needs some humidity, about 30–50%, at least until it's acclimated to your home.
What kind of water should I use for pitcher plants?
Only distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis (RO) water. Tap water has minerals that build up in the soil and can harm the roots.