Carnivorous Plant Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular carnivorous plants with care guides, trapping mechanisms, and cultivation tips.
Featured Carnivorous Plant
Showing 12 of 140 species
© Keisotyo / CC BY-SA 4.0Nepenthes × dyeriana
Nepenthes × dyeriana
A complex hybrid pitcher plant sold as N. × mixta (N. northiana × N. maxima) crossed with N. × dicksoniana (N. rafflesiana × N. veitchii). A hybrid of the same parentage was raised at Veitch's nursery in Britain in 1900.
© en:User:Rbrtjong / Public domainNepenthes × hookeriana
Nepenthes × hookeriana
A natural hybrid of N. ampullaria and N. rafflesiana, relatively common in the lowlands of Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and nearby, known as Hooker's pitcher-plant. A staple of hanging-basket sales in Japan.
© Alfindra Primaldhi / CC BY 2.0Nepenthes albomarginata
Nepenthes albomarginata
True to its name ('white-margined'), this pitcher plant has a band of white hairs just below the rim. The hairs lure termites, making it known as a termite-specialist carnivore. Pitchers are about 15 cm tall.
© No machine-readable author provided. NepGrower~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5Nepenthes Ampullaria
Nepenthes ampullaria
A unique Nepenthes clustering pitchers on the ground, decomposing fallen leaves for nutrition.
© JeremiahsCPs (English Wikipedia) / Public domainNepenthes khasiana
Nepenthes khasiana
The only pitcher plant native to India. It bears slender green pitchers streaked with reddish brown, thought to lure insects with blue fluorescence. It is a CITES Appendix I species, so transfers in Japan need a registration certificate.
Nepenthes Linda
Nepenthes 'Linda'
A highland hybrid pitcher plant selected from 'Rebecca Soper' crossed with a red N. ventricosa. Deep burgundy pitchers pinch in at the middle beneath a glossy dark rim. It resembles its parent, so check the label.
© Scott Zona / CC BY 2.0Nepenthes madagascariensis
Nepenthes madagascariensis
A lowland pitcher plant of the east coast of Madagascar. It bears mostly slender, funnel-shaped yellow upper pitchers with a broad peristome and an almost circular lid, and was the first Nepenthes species recorded scientifically, in the 17th century.
© Alfindra Primaldhi / CC BY 2.0Nepenthes Maxima
Nepenthes maxima
A beautiful Nepenthes from Sulawesi with large pitchers and diverse color forms, relatively hardy.
© en:User:Rbrtjong / Public domainNepenthes Rafflesiana
Nepenthes rafflesiana
A large Nepenthes widely distributed in SE Asia with huge pitchers and varied coloring.
Nepenthes Rebecca Soper
Nepenthes 'Rebecca Soper'
A highland hybrid pitcher plant whose slender, waisted pitchers deepen from burgundy to nearly black outside, contrasting with the pale interior. Widely sold in hanging baskets; sources give its parentage as N. ventricosa crossed with N. ramispina or a related species.
© en:User:Rbrtjong / Public domainNepenthes reinwardtiana
Nepenthes reinwardtiana
A pitcher plant of Borneo and Sumatra, best known for the two 'eye spots' on the inner wall of its pitchers. Colour ranges from green to deep red, and it grows anywhere from sea level to 2,200 m.
© Original uploader was Attenboroughii at en.wikipedia / CC BY 3.0Nepenthes Ventricosa
Nepenthes ventricosa
A Nepenthes with cute rounded pitchers, highland but relatively easy to grow.
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Carnivorous Plant FAQ
- How much do carnivorous plants cost?
- Venus Flytraps cost 500-2,000 yen, Nepenthes 1,000-10,000 yen, and rare highland Nepenthes can exceed tens of thousands of yen depending on species and size.
- Can beginners grow carnivorous plants?
- Venus Flytraps, Sundews, and Sarracenia are relatively easy and beginner-friendly. Keep them in a tray of water for humidity and place in a sunny spot.
- How long do carnivorous plants live?
- Venus Flytraps can live 10+ years with proper care, and Sarracenia are similarly long-lived. Nepenthes can grow for decades in the right conditions, getting progressively larger.
- What should I check when buying carnivorous plants?
- Check that leaves and traps are healthy with no root rot. For Nepenthes, choose specimens with pitchers. Avoid sudden environment changes after purchase and acclimate gradually.
- Do I need to feed insects to carnivorous plants?
- They grow fine through photosynthesis alone without feeding. Insects are supplemental nutrition and don't need to be force-fed. Outdoor plants catch bugs naturally, which is fun to observe.