Highland Pitcher Plants of the genus Nepenthes

Highland Nepenthes are used of having cold nights, while the daytime temperatures can still reach 30 degree Celsius. How cold the temperature drop at night is, depends on the altitude, usually it ranges between 10-20 degree Celsius. Still many of them can be negotiated to grow in the lowlands , some punish it with slowed growth or even crippled pitchers, for others you won't feel a problem at all. It certainly helps to provide them with a moist (air!) growing environment, while they usually prefer a more airy, coarse soil. With an airy soil, care has to be taken that it never dries out.

Highland Species

N. alata 'Banaue highland'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

This form is abundant in the highlands of the Cordillera Mountain range in northern Luzon, Philippines and is often seen at road banks, where it is frequently trimmed back and burned by the highway maintenance workers. Some consider this form as the "true" alata, as it matches the original description most closely.
There are purely green forms and striped ones.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good

N. argentii BE 3021

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

One of the smallest plants in the genus. It occurs on Sibuyan Island in the Philippines above 1500m. It is hairy and has a very unique Y-shaped peristome.

Lowland suitabilty: Hard

N. burbidgeae BE3041

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

A very pretty highlander (1200- 2550m) with cream white pitchers (Later!). The closest relative would be N. macfarlanei.
It originates from Borneo around Mt. Kinabalu.

Lowland suitabilty: Hard

N. burkei Halcon BE3254

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

A spectacular plant from Mindoro Island in the Philippines that occurs above 1500m. While it used to be confused with N. ventricosa this plant really bears a lot of differences when it comes to peristome and coloration. It remains to be seen how well it produces pitchers in hot lowland conditions.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair

Price: Php 700 SIZE S

N. copelandii 'Marilog'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

Strikingly similar to N. alata, but lacks the apendage below the lid, while the lower pitcher are more cylindric. Further the upper pitchers might be funnel shaped. Haven't seen them yet though. This is a copelandii form new to cultivation located in southern Mindanao, Philippines at around 1100m asl. It shares the habitat with N. truncata. Recent DNA research revealed that N. copelandii is not at all related to alata despite the looks.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good.

N. copelandii 'Bukidnon A'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

The pitchers of this form is getting pretty close to N. faizaliana and such.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good

N. copelandii 'Bukidnon B'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

This clone has beautifully striped peristomes.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good

N. copelandii 'Bukidnon C'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

This clone feels quite close to the Apo copelandii's.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good.

N. copelandii 'Bukidnon D'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

All green form with large pitcher opening.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good

N. copelandii 'Bukidnon E'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

Unique coloration and shows already weirdly beautiful infundibuliar uppers.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good

N. copelandii 'Bukidnon F'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

The peristome remains cream colored even on old pichers.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good.

N. copelandii 'Mt. Apo' BE3046

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

This is the classic Mt. Apo form of N. copelandii with the perfect funnel shaped pitchers that can be near white in color. Another sturdy highlander that should do well in the lowlands, even though it originates from the highest mountain of the Philippines (around 1300-2300m).

Lowland suitabilty: Very good.

Price: Php 550 SIZE M

N. diatas 'Bandahara' BE3056

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

A highlander from the highest mountains in Sumatra, Indonesia. It has a strongly ripped, irresistable, devilish red peristome. We are growing her close relative N. ovata since a while and it doesn't seem to mind the lower altitude at all. It just doesn't like the dry season and might fail to produce pitchers if not misted frequently. Aside from the good looks the pitchers tend to get huge, too.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair

Price: Php 550 SIZE S

N. ephippiata BE3064

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

This plant shares similarities with N. lowii, having also a bristled underside of the lids. The pitchers also tend to be waisted but not as strong as in lowii. Altitude 1300-1900m located in Borneo. It is performing equally well like lowii for us.

Lowland suitabilty: Hard.

N. eymae BE3067

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

At first this plant looks clearly like a N. maxima, but once it develops wine glass shaped uppers it is easy to tell the difference. Altitude 1500-1800m in Sulawesi. A fast and uncomplicated plant recommendable to beginners. Look at those nice wavy lids...

Lowland suitabilty: Good.

Price: Php 700 SIZE S

N. fusca 'Sarawak' BE3070

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

A very pretty highlander from Borneo, Malaysia. The plant shares some similarities with N. maxima. The lid becomes triangular and stands upright in some cases, which is the typical for the species. This is the classic form.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

N. fusca 'flared Peristome' BE3068

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

This form of N. fusca features a spectacular flared peristome, which is not yet visible in our young plants. Like N. maxima this plant should perform well in the lowlands, too. In originates from Borneo.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Price: Php 550 SIZE M

N. glabrata BE3257

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

A pitcher plant from Sulawesi growing at 1600-2100m. It has a most spectacular coloration and appears almost hand painted. The pitchers reach only a few cm in height.
It originates from Borneo around Mt. Kinabalu.

Lowland suitabilty: Testing :)

Price: Php 700 SIZE S

N. izumiae Lusung Tungkut BE3090

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

One of those very similar Sumatra Highlanders. This one features exceptionally dark and longish pitchers, which make it quite attractive.

Lowland suitabilty: Testing :)

N. lowii BE3100

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

The famous plant that has toilet bowl shaped upper pitchers, which are designed to collect excrements of visiting birds and most likely drinking water, too. It takes a while to grow this to a large plant (I heard 8 years), but it does already very well at our intermediate elevation. Altitude of this species 1600-2600m at Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo.

Lowland suitabilty: Hard.

Price: Php 550 SIZE S

N. macfarlanei Genting BE3103

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

A pretty but delicate highlander (1000-2150m) from the Cameroon highlands in Peninsular Malaysia with very colorful pitchers. In full sunlight these can even turn into white. If grows very well in intermediate locations, can also adopt to the lowlands, but has to be kept humid at all times. The red peristome has at some point definitely ferrari colors. Actually the whole plant feels very "high resolution", the speckles and morphological details (the leaves have a very thin red margin for example) seem to be much finer than other species, making already the small plants spectacular. It is also notable that the underside of the lid is hairy.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Price: Php 450 SIZE S

N. mikei Bandahara BE3121

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

A small plant for black lovers, as even the stem is near black. In occurs in Sumatra between 1100-2800m. Aside from the color it shares many features with N. angasanensis and N. tobaica, which raises hopes that this plant might perform very well and speedy in the lowlands.

Lowland suitabilty: Testing :)

Price: Php 450 SIZE S

N. mira BE3123

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

A plant only known from the summit area of Cleopatra's peak in Palawan, Philippines. It shows similarities to it's neighbors N. deaniana, N. attenboroughii, N. mantalingajanensis and even N. rajah. Therefore you should reserve ample of space for it. Altitude 1500-1600m. People talk a lot about N. sibuyanensis, while this plant, which gets a similar giant size, is less known to most. On the cultivation side it never failed for us to produce a pitcher and is increasing steadily, while growing at a good speed.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Price: Php 550 SIZE M

N. ovata BE3133

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

A highlander from Sumatra with a good peristome, spectacular blackening of older pitchers and a unique appendage below the lid. Altitude 1700-2100m. N. ovata is closely related to N. carunculata and N. bongso (same without the crest below the lid), then it is not so different from N. singalana (rounded instead of accuminate leaf apex) , N. spathulata (wider peristome, shorter teeth) with synomymous N. adrianii, N. densiflora (no appendage, elongated neck at lower pitchers) and N. diatas of course. And while we are at it N. rigidifolia (thicker leafes, subapical tendril insertation) and N. naga (dichotomous lid appendage) look also very much like N. ovata. Maybe that's the secret why Sumatra has so many species? :-)
It grows and pitchers btw very well at our farm, we didn't even have to hang it in a tree to add some altitude ;-)

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

N. petiolata 'Bukidnon'

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

An intermediate plant occurring from 800-1900m in northern Mindanao, Philippines up to our very neighborhood. The distribution of this species was assumed to be limited to only a very few summits and ridges, but is now documented even in Bukidnon, numerous mountains away from its type location. It might even resemble a new species and needs to be further investigated.

Lowland suitabilty: Good.

N. petiolata BE3135

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

Same plant from BE, which might be from the type location.

Lowland suitabilty: Testing :)

N. rajah BE3152

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

This is the king of all Nepenthes as it claims to have largest traps in the genus, sometimes cited as the largest carnivorous plant on the planet. The pitchers can supposedly contain up to 3.5 liters of fluid. It is an ultrahighlander occuring between 1500-2650 on Mt. Kinabalu and Tambuyukon in Borneo. Due to its fame and occurence on a limited habitat it is considered threatened However in the meantime it has entered successfully mass propagation and should be preserved for generations to come. If you are challenged to give this plant a try, make sure you can offer lower night time temperatures. We have around 19 degrees at these (relatively warm) nights, which makes our rajahs and subsequently us already very happy.

Lowland suitabilty: Hard.

Price: Php 550 SIZE S

N. ramispina Genting BE3155

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

This underestimated plant from Peninsular Malaysia features almost black pitchers that contrast perfectly with the lime green interior.

Lowland suitabilty: Possibly easy

Price: Php 450 SIZE S

N. reinwardtiana BE3159

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

Another Nepenthes-racer from Peninsular Malaysia growing at 0-2200m. I think it is so fast because of it's very aerodynamic design :) A plant that will keep it's owner happy, no matter where he lives. Some pitchers have unique eye spots in the inside. There is also a species named N. naquiyuddinii (I know it looks like my keyboard is broken) floating around, which might or might not have sufficient differences to justify it's separate description.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good!

Price: Php 450 SIZE S

N. sanguinea BE3162

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

An undemanding highland (900-1800m) plant from the Genting Highlands of peninsular Malaysia. It produces many large orange colored or, as in case with our clone, maroon pitchers and is in our experience the fastest grower in the genus only bypassed by hybrids. It grows also well in hot climates.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good.

N. sanguinea BE3312

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

Same like before, but this clones can also feature orange/salmon colored pitchers. Plus they will be available for sale.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good

Price: Php 450 SIZE S

N. sibuyanensis BE3164

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

A highland (1500-1800m) plant with giant pitchers from the windswept summit of Mt. Guiting-Guiting, Sibuyan island in the eastern Philippines. The pitchers remind of those from N. ventricosa, at least as long N. sibuyanensis is a baby plant... It has extremely long tendrils that try to hide the pitchers in the loose soil for additional storm proofing.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Price: Php 550 SIZE M

N. sp#1 BE3172

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

This pretty fellow is large and supposedly easy growing, but is not yet named. Hopefully we can update this info after some time.

Lowland suitabilty: Testing :)

N. spectabilis BE3176

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

A highlander from Gunung Pangulubao, Sumatra growing at an altitude from 1400-2200m. It somewhat reminds the observer of N. maxima, but latest the upper pitchers don't fail to amaze, due to their sheer length and slimness with an infundibular pitcher top. The coloration is also very high contrast and high detail.

Lowland suitabilty: Good.

Price: Php 550 SIZE M

N. stenophylla Bareo BE3184

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

A hairy plant from Borneo producing funnel shaped pitchers up to 25cm. There is much confusion how similar this plant is to N. fallax and N. faizaliana

Lowland suitabilty: Testing :)

N. surigaoensis

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

A plant for a long time united with N. merrilliana has been rediscovered and found to be significantly different. Opposite to N. merrilliana it has longer tendrils, tubbier and smaller pitchers, decurrent wings along the stem and pitchers covered with hair. We found it so far at altitudes from 1000-1500m in Agusan and Bukidnon Provinces, Philippines. Ironically not in Surigao Province, in which it still might be found anytime - Surigao province used to include Agusan during the days of first discovery...

Lowland suitabilty: Good.

N. tentaculata BE3192

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

Small highland (400-2550m) plant with funny lids and a steep ovate peristome from Borneo and Sulawesi. It is producing healthy leafs and pitchers year round. This might be a good plant to try in the lowlands, as it seems to be ok with all kinds of temperatures. Only low humidity is able to criple the pitchers, but otherwise the plant remains unaffected. There are some Nepenthes that are sort of boring when young as they still lack adult features that distinguish them from other species. This one is not! It is a very close relative to the famous but still expensive N. hamata.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Price: Php 550 SIZE S

N. truncata 'Pasian' BE3203

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

The famous Nepenthes truncata has a more spectacular highland form. The pitchers have a red blush and a striped peristome. Still it does grow well under lowland conditions, too. It originates from Mt. Pasian (around 1200m) in northeastern Mindanao. Opposite to some others sources in the Philippines these plants originate from in-vitro thus keeping the natural populations protected!

Lowland suitabilty: Very good.

Price: Php 750 SIZE M

N. veitchii

wikipedia

AVAILABLE SOON

The species generally occurs from 50-1200m in Borneo. The picture still shows a young plant. The peristome tends to get very huge and triangular later. The plant has the ability to 'hug' trees and climb them up. One of the most spectacular plants in the genus. We often get inquires about this plant and will order as soon it is available in quantity.

Lowland suitabilty: Very good.

Price: Php 700 SIZE S

N. ventricosa 'red, clone 1' BE3215

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

A lovely and fast growing highland (1200-1500m) plant from Luzon island in the Philippines. The pitchers are waisted and have a waxy pinkish surface. This plant remains relatively small, although the adult pitchers impress by size and beauty.
Still, in the lowlands like Manila during the dry season, pitchering might stop for a while, which is not threatening to the plant itself. However of all ventricosas I got my hands on, this one is the most prolific and keeps on increasing in all dimensions rapidly.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Price: Php 550 SIZE M

Price: Php 700 SIZE L

N. ventricosa 'Madja-as' BE3278

wikipedia

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

This ventricosa form is from the highest mountain of Panay island, Philippines. It has a different coloration and peristome than its neighbor and resembles some features of N. burkei from Mindoro. This ventricosa is very new to cultivation, there is even a chance that it might be separated into a new species one day. It is a speedy grower for us, that easily outperforms its close relative N. sibuyanensis.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Price: Php 550 SIZE M

Price: Php 700 SIZE L

N. ventricosa, Manila

wikipedia

OUT OF STOCK

A friend of mine bought this plant in Manila and supplied us with a cutting. A few months later this has turned into a decent plant growing and pitchering at a good rate. It grows slower with much slimmer leaves than our BE ventricosas and pitchers in waves, obviously underlining that ventricosa doesn't equal ventricosa. It seems to prefer the color green, but it is also not 100% mature yet. The peristome does turn red later in the pitcher life, though. Of course this plant is not from Manila, but maybe from nearby mountains in Luzon.

Lowland suitabilty: Fair.

Back to