Bloomipedia
Parrot pitcher plant (Sarracenia psittacina)
Photo: Lauren McLaurin via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Parrot pitcher plant

Sarracenia psittacina

Native to Mississippi

Parrot pitcher plant is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Mississippi it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

6states
495MS sightings*
2,345U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Mississippi

Quick look

Sarracenia psittacina, also known as the parrot pitcherplant, is a carnivorous plant in the genus Sarracenia. Like all the Sarracenia, it is native to North America, in the Southeastern United States.

  • It belongs to the Sarraceniaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Mississippi. NatureServe
  • In Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 495 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #33 among the 110 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist

Parrot pitcher plant gift ideas

Handmade parrot pitcher plant gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

In Mississippi, most flowering sightings come in April–May.

Flowering records by month in Mississippi (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (74 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Resolved Taxon,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Mississippi.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (S2), SC (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records parrot pitcher plant in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina.

Mississippi counties with USDA records: George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Stone.

More Mississippi flowers

Sources