White Lights Rhododendron (Azalea) vs Purple Pitcher Plant

Purple Pitcher Plant is a native carnivorous plant, easily recognized by its purple-tinged, tubular pitchers that capture and digest insects. The nectar along the rim attracts insects to the pitcher, where slippery surfaces and downward-pointing hairs cause them to fall into the fluid below. Once inside, they are broken down, providing nutrients that allow the plant to thrive in nutrient-poor soils.

The plant produces nodding, purple-red flowers held high above the leaves. Interestingly, these blooms are pollinated by the Pitcher Plant Fly (Fletcherimyia fletcheri), whose larvae live in the fluid of the pitchers and feed on some of the trapped insects. It can be found in bogs, fens, and other wetlands. It is well-suited for wetland gardens, restoration, and naturalisation projects.

The Purple Pitcher Plant can be challenging to grow because of its specific requirements. It thrives in consistently moist (but not waterlogged), acidic soil, with a peat-and-sand mix typically recommended. The plant is sensitive to fertilizers, dissolved salts, and chlorinated water. When given the right conditions, full sun will bring out its brightest colors.

The Purple Pitcher Plant is the provincial flower of Newfoundland & Labrador.

White Lights Rhododendron is part of the Northern Lights Series, cold hardy, and deciduous. In late spring you'll be drawn to its fragrant white blooms. In fall, the foliage turns a beautiful purple-bronze color. Pruning is recommended after the flowers are spent to control the size and shape of this shrub.

White Lights Rhododendron should be your next hedge/screen, or plant it on its own as a specimen plant.

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