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Why plant it: Femmes fatales of the bog garden, carnivorous pitcher plants lure insects to their doom with sweet-smelling nectar and long (up to 38 inches), hollow stems. Once insects are inside, recurved hairs thwart their escape. The captives drown, and the plant digests their remains. Exotic, orchidlike flowers in late spring are either hypnotically fragrant or offensive, depending on the species.
How to grow: Pitcher plants demand wet, nutrient-poor, peaty soil. If your yard can't meet this demand, grow them in pots where you can control moisture and acidity. Most species need 6 hours of sun a day and will flop with less. They are hardy through USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6; the northern species (S. purpurea) will survive in even colder regions.
Which to try: Pitcher plants entice in shades of yellow (S. flava), purple-red (S. purpurea), or white with red veining (S. leucophylla). Native to North America, they are often poached from the wild, reducing natural populations. Buy only nursery-grown plants.
