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Carnivorous Plant Newsletter
Volume 38, Number 3, September 2009, pages 90 - 91
New Cultivars
Sarracenia ‘Jessica’
Submitted: 5 December 2008
Sarracenia ‘Jessica’ (see Figure 1) comes from a cross I made between a vigorous green Sarracenia
alata and one of my S. leucophylla clones. Through faster growth and refinement of form and color, this clone
soon separated itself from its siblings. Sarracenia ‘Jessica’ produces abundant light-green erect leaves, reaching
56 cm (22 in), that show a yellow suffusion and faint areoles on the upper leaf and the hood. A subdued
red-brown venation is also restricted to this area. Older leaves develop lighter coloration and increased translucence on the upper leaf and hood with the veins becoming more prominent. The flower is the feature
that distinguishes this cultivar from all other S. x areolata crosses, and I selected it for cultivar status and
named it on 15 May 2007. (see Figure 2)
This is not a strongly colored plant. Rather, Sarracenia ‘Jessica’ exhibits a grace and formal elegance
that has made it a constant favorite of mine. On this plant, with its patrician appearance, it always delights
and amuses me to see the explosion of gorgeous, incongruous clear-pink flowers that it produces each spring. It is this split personality that has cemented my attachment to this cultivar and which reminded me so much,
in a moment of whimsy, of the endlessly complex young woman for which it is named.
To maintain these memorable characteristics, this plant should be reproduced only by vegetative means.
— JERRY ADDINGTON • Courting Frogs Nursery • Stanwood, WA •
USA
Figure 1: Sarracenia 'Jessica' pitcher. Photo by Jerry Addington.
Figure 2: Sarracenia ‘Jessica’ flower. Photo by Jerry Addington.
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