- First described
- 2011
- Into cultivation
- early 2000s
- Type
- population
A seed-grown population of S. purpurea ssp. purpurea from a basic-pH marl bog near McGregor Point in Bruce County, Ontario. Compact, dark-red, and resilient — Mike's favorite purpurea ssp. purpurea variant. In Mike's collection since the early 2000s; documented from 2011 to 2023 (40 photos, 35 by Mike, 5 by Rob Co in the original 2011 post).
Origin
Wild seed from a marl bog (basic-pH wetland) near McGregor Point, Bruce County, Ontario, Canada. The basic-pH habitat is highly unusual for Sarracenia purpurea — most populations grow in strongly acidic bogs.
Mike has the population in cultivation since the early 2000s. The original wild collector and collection year are [MISSING]. The plants in cultivation are seed-grown — multiple distinct individuals from the same source seed batch, treated collectively as 'Marl Bog form'.
Mike's hypothesis (post 1, 2011-12-14): basic-pH conditions select for distinct genotypes, producing the small-and-dark phenotype. He later (2020) revised: "the shape and look are independent of that factor: populations out there in regular, acidic bogs have the same shape and coloration. I think it just happens to be a good looking form growing in an unusual environment." So the marl bog may not be the cause of the phenotype — it may just be where this genotype currently happens to live.
History
- Wild seed: collected (year [MISSING]) near McGregor Point, Bruce Co, ON.
- Early 2000s: Mike begins growing the seed batch.
- 2011-12-14 (post 1): First forum documentation. Mike notes the 4-week stratification with near-100% germination (atypical for purpurea seed). Photos by Robert Co.
- 2012-06 / 07 / 08: Multiple updates documenting the small-and- dark phenotype and the green hood-exterior pigmentation.
- 2014-07: A 2-year-unrepotted plant has formed a massive single clump.
- 2014-12: Discussion of heat tolerance — Mike's plants survived a 112°F heat wave.
- 2014-12 (post 18, hcarlton): Confirms marl bog forms grow fine in regular peat without liming.
- 2020-03 / 04: Mike highlights breeding value for "black Sarracenia"; historic photos compiled.
- 2021-11: Traps go especially dark in fall; Mike compares to pink roseas.
- 2023-07-26: Most recent Mike-photo update. Some plants entering dormancy unusually early.
Standout traits
- Small and dark — the population's signature phenotype.
- Massive clumping despite small individual traps.
- Excellent heat tolerance — survived 112°F in CA.
- Fast germination — 4 weeks stratification.
- Resilient — easier to keep alive long-term than other purpurea ssp. purpurea populations Mike has tried.
- Valuable for black-Sarracenia breeding (Mike's framing).
Cultivation notes
Acidic peat is fine — no liming needed. Excellent heat tolerance. Plan for clump expansion if leaving undisturbed. Color comes with trap age; new traps don't immediately show full dark expression.
Photos
See gallery below — 40 photos spanning 2011 through 2023 (35 by Mike Wang, 5 by Robert Co in the 2011 introduction).
Standout traits
- Capable of going extremely dark — nearly black under good conditions; older traps in late fall / winter can be 'next-level dark'
- Very compact / stunted habit — Mike (post 1, 2011-12-14): 'plants tend to stay very small and dark red'
- Forms massive clumps over time despite the small individual traps (Mike, 2014-07-16: a 2-year-unrepotted 3.5" pot was a huge clump)
- Unusually fast germination — Mike (post 1): 'seeds only took 4 weeks to stratify to get nearly 100% germination,' compared to poor germination after 4 weeks for most other purp. purp. populations
- Resilient — Mike (2020-04-14): 'this marl bog population is more resilient for whatever reason' compared to other populations he's struggled to keep going
- Heat-tolerant — survived a 112°F heat wave in CA without losses (Mike, post 19, 2014-12-03)
- Genetic vs environmental: Mike (2020-04-14) believes the unique shape & color is INDEPENDENT of marl-bog conditions — populations of similar genotype in regular acidic bogs look the same
- Greenish hood-exterior pigmentation observed on at least one plant (Mike, 2012-08-20) — unusual feature where the green-with-dark-veins pattern normally limited to the lid interior extends to the exterior
- Valuable for breeding black Sarracenia — Mike (post 20, 2020-03-23): 'I think people don't realize how valuable [this] can be to breeding black sarracenia!'
Cultivation
- Acidic peat is fine. Per hcarlton (post 18, 2014-12-03): "The marl 'forms' will grow in regular peat soils like any of the other purpureas. They just take a season or two to revert to the growth pattern found in acid soils." Mike does NOT lime the substrate — standard acidic peat works.
- Heat tolerance is excellent. Mike's plants survived a sustained 112°F heat wave with no losses; other Bay Area growers have reported overheating issues, so cultural differences may matter.
- Forms massive clumps when left undisturbed. A 2-year- unrepotted 3.5" pot can become a single dense clump.
- Spring traps double the size of last season's once they fully emerge under good conditions (Mike, 2020-04).
- Color requires aging. New traps don't immediately show the dark color; aged fall/winter traps go dramatically dark.
- Rot susceptibility noted by lushgrows (post 31, 2025-06): using beneficial fungi/nematodes as preventive.
Photos (40)
Naming
'Marl Bog form' references the basic-pH wetland habitat (a marl bog) the source seed came from. Mike (post 1) speculated that basic conditions select for different genotypes than the typical acidic Sarracenia bogs. Population-level cultivar-style label rather than a single-clone designation.