sarracenia purpurea var. montana

Sarracenia montana Greenville Co, SC

Greenville Co, SC

First described: 2018
Type: population

A multi-individual S. purpurea var. montana accession from a wild Greenville Co, SC site (likely a cataract bog). Long pitcher shape on some, intensely contrasting veins, fungal- resistant and vigorous compared to other montana populations. Strongly environmentally sensitive: full sun → deep red, part shade → greenish (purpurea-like). Includes folded-lid individuals and at least one unusual green clone. CITES- restricted. Mike has distributed many divisions ('a Gajillion'). ~52 Mike photos spanning 2018-2025.

Standout traits

Long pitcher shape on some individuals — 'much longer than other genotypes I've grown' (Mike, 2018-08)
Intensely contrasting veins — characteristic of the cataract-bog site
Bold major veins obliterate finer veins (Rorschach-like patterns per clue, 2022)
Vigorous and fungal-resistant compared to other S. montana populations Mike has grown
Can develop very deep red color in full sun; goes greenish (resembling pure ssp. purpurea) under part shade — environmentally sensitive
Some individuals have folded lids (Mike, 2020-11)
Distinct unusual green clone(s) within the population (Mike, 2025-05)
Cool-dormancy color development — colors deepen significantly during winter dormancy (Mike, 2020-12)

Cultivation

Vigorous and fungal-resistant. Compared to other montana populations Mike has grown, this one resists fungal pathogens well.
Light-dependent expression. Plants in full sun develop very deep red; plants in part shade go greenish (Mike, 2025-03 — heavily shaded plants resemble pure ssp. purpurea rather than montana). Wild plants in heavy shade also look much greener than in cultivation under sun.
Recently divided plants recover well. Even with winter division, plants typically perform reasonably through the season and look excellent by fall.
Folded-lid individuals exist in the divisions Mike has distributed.

Photos (52)

montana Greenville Co, 2018-08-07 — biggest Mike plants of this population at the time, still juvenile— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2018-08-07— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co (and Jackson Co, NC), 2018-09-24 — Mike's mother plants for long-term preservation— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2018-09-24— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co mother plants, 2019-06-10— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2019-06-10— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2019-06-10 — beautiful, bulbous, not boring— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2019-08-09 — fungal-resistant— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2019-08-09— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2020-08-09— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co divisions, 2020-11-13 — folded lids visible on some clones— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co divisions, 2020-11-13— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2020-12 dormancy — significant winter color development— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2020-12 dormancy— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2021-07-27— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2022-05-28— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2023-07-10 — recently divided + part shade, going greenish/purpurea-like— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2023-07-10— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co divisions, 2023-09-19 — thriving in part shade— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co divisions, 2023-09-19— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2024-06-20 — surprisingly good despite winter division— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2024-06-20— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co mother plants in part shade, 2025-03-18 — wild plants typically grow in heavy shade and look like this— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co mother plants, 2025-03-18— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2025-05-28 — note unusual green clone in tray— Mike Wang

montana Greenville Co, 2025-05-28— Mike Wang

Naming

Population-level designation by site (Greenville Co, SC). Same region — and very likely the same population — as the S. jonesii 'RED' Greenville Co, SC (C0294). Mike treats this as a single multi-individual accession, distinct from named- clone selections like the BLACK LIPS sub-clone.