Nepenthes alata

RHS Plant Profile
winged tropical pitcher plant
Houseplants Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial

An evergreen, carnivorous perennial, with strap-shaded leaves with a prolonged midrib, which acts as a tendril and may end in a hanging, hollow pitcher, with two vertical ridges or "wings" at the front. The pitchers are slender expanding into a bulbous lower third, closest to the tendril, with a thickened rim and an apical lid. Pitchers vary in colour even on the same plant, ranging from yellow-green, to red, speckled, orange, purple, and a variety of combinations and range in size from 18cm, for lower pitchers to 23cm for those higher up the plant. Tiny petalless male and female flowers, with green or brown sepals, are borne in spike-like racemes

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1A

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Nepenthaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Pendulous weeping
Genus
Nepenthes or pitcher plants are a genus of evergreen, mostly epiphytic, insectivorous perennials. Their leaves are adapted to form pendulous, lidded, coloured pitchers that trap and digest insects
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in hanging baskets in a acidic, low nutrient specialist mix in bright filtered light with high humidity. See Carnivorous plant cultivation

Propagation

Propagate from stem cuttings in February or sow seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants
  • Sub-tropical

Pruning

Trim out spent pitchers

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free