From ‘Tina’ to ‘Sorrow’

You may have seen this cultivar of Sarracenia purpurea...

This superb plant is partially ‘albino’. Its foliage is a light, almost glossy green on recently opened pitchers. Only the base of the hood is adorned with red markings, the pattern and extent of which vary from specimen to specimen.

We acquired this plant from Triffid Park Nurseries (Australia) some time ago, under the name Sarracenia purpurea ‘Tina’. Shortly after it was posted online, it was brought to our attention that the pitcher pictured corresponds to that of a registered cultivar called ‘Sorrow’.

Here is the ICPS page where you can read a description of the plant by the person who named it. Among other things, we learn that it originated from a batch of seeds sown in 1979!

It would appear that this plant was named ‘Sarracenia purpurea “Tina”’ by the original grower, and was distributed under that name. It was not until 2003 that it was registered under the name ‘Sorrow’. It is still extremely rare in collections.

Look out for a glimpse of its almost-white flower next spring!