Nepenthes - also known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups - have been inspiring awe in botanists since they were first discovered by Europeans in the 17th century. With their dazzling colours and elaborately decorative traps, the plants seem to flaunt their carnivory with pride.
Ranging in size from diminutive miniatures like Nepenthes ampullaria to gargantuan monstrosities like Nepenthes rajah, the genus includes the only carnivorous plants known to have caught and eaten whole rats.
As with all plants, the key to successfully growing Nepenthes in cultivation is the ability to replicate the conditions of their natural habitat. Most Nepenthes species are found in Southeast Asia, particularly Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines, and the genus ranges from highland montane plants to those inhabiting steamy lowland jungles.
Below, you’ll find an interactive altitude chart covering every species, a calculator for growers of hybrids, a visualization of the day & night temperatures of these habitats, and finally advice on watering, light, and soil. Good growing!
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Elevation (m)
Avg Day Temperature (°C)
Avg Night Temperature (°C)
3500
16 - 22
4 - 12
3000
17 - 23
6 - 13
2500
18 - 24
8 - 15
2000
20 - 26
10 - 17
1500
21 - 27
12 - 18
1000
24 - 30
15 - 21
500
26 - 32
17 - 23
0
29 - 35
20 - 25
is found at elevations of between meters.
is found at elevations of between meters.
This range is highlighted in orange on the chart above, and equates to temperatures of approximately during the day, and at night.
On average, a hybrid is likely to prefer conditions similar to those found at elevations of between meters. This range is highlighted in purple on the chart above, and equates to temperatures of approximately during the day, and at night.
This is only an estimate - there are many other factors to consider, particularly for hybrids. These include male & female parentage (remember that Nepenthes are dioecious!) and whether either of the parent species is particularly challenging to grow.
When looking at photos, please note that many species exhibit great variability both across their natural ranges and between their lower and upper pitchers, so images will not always be representative.
For more general Nepenthes care advice including watering, light, and soil, head down to the section on General Cultivation.
2. Nepenthes Species List
Spotted a mistake or omission? Click here to suggest a correction.
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Name
Low (m)
High (m)
Region
Nepenthes lamii
2700
3520
New Guinea
Nepenthes diatas
2400
2900
Sumatra
Nepenthes angasanensis
2200
2800
Sumatra
Nepenthes densiflora
1700
3200
Sumatra
Nepenthes singalana
2000
2900
Sumatra
Nepenthes macrophylla
2200
2642
Borneo
Nepenthes villosa
1600
3240
Borneo
Nepenthes lavicola
2000
2600
Sumatra
Nepenthes diabolica
2200
2300
Sulawesi
Nepenthes murudensis
2000
2423
Borneo
Nepenthes aristolochioides
1800
2500
Sumatra
Nepenthes dubia
1600
2700
Sumatra
Nepenthes edwardsiana
1600
2700
Borneo
Nepenthes talangensis
1800
2500
Sumatra
Nepenthes lowii
1650
2600
Borneo
Nepenthes maryae
2050
2150
Sulawesi
Nepenthes nigra
1500
2700
Sulawesi
Nepenthes rajah
1500
2650
Borneo
Nepenthes inermis
1500
2600
Sumatra
Nepenthes muluensis
1700
2400
Borneo
Nepenthes monticola
1400
2620
New Guinea
Nepenthes flava
1800
2200
Sumatra
Nepenthes spathulata
1100
2900
Sumatra
Nepenthes hamata
1400
2500
Sulawesi
Nepenthes jacquelineae
1700
2200
Sumatra
Nepenthes jamban
1800
2100
Sumatra
Nepenthes kitanglad
1800
2100
Philippines
Nepenthes mikei
1100
2800
Sumatra
Nepenthes saranganiensis
1800
2100
Philippines
Nepenthes sumagaya
1600
2247
Philippines
Nepenthes lingulata
1700
2100
Sumatra
Nepenthes ovata
1700
2100
Sumatra
Nepenthes pantaronensis
1600
2200
Philippines
Nepenthes alba
1600
2187
Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes mantalingajanensis
1700
2085
Philippines
Nepenthes bongso
1000
2700
Sumatra
Nepenthes glabrata
1600
2100
Sulawesi
Nepenthes pectinata
950
2750
Sumatra
Nepenthes xiphioides
1800
1900
Sumatra
Nepenthes alzapan
1750
1850
Philippines
Nepenthes izumiae
1700
1900
Sumatra
Nepenthes mollis
1300
2400
Borneo
Nepenthes rhombicaulis
1600
2000
Sumatra
Nepenthes robcantleyi
1750
1850
Philippines
Nepenthes spectabilis
1400
2200
Sumatra
Nepenthes undulatifolia
1750
1850
Sulawesi
Nepenthes copelandii
1100
2400
Philippines
Nepenthes naga
1500
2000
Sumatra
Nepenthes gracillima
1400
2000
Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes gymnamphora
600
2800
Sumatra
Nepenthes stenophylla
800
2600
Borneo
Nepenthes gantungensis
1600
1784
Philippines
Nepenthes ceciliae
1500
1880
Philippines
Nepenthes zygon
1500
1875
Philippines
Nepenthes petiolata
1450
1900
Philippines
Nepenthes argentii
1400
1900
Philippines
Nepenthes ephippiata
1300
2000
Borneo
Nepenthes pilosa
1550
1650
Borneo
Nepenthes pitopangii
1400
1800
Sulawesi
Nepenthes barcelonae
1500
1700
Philippines
Nepenthes attenboroughii
1450
1726
Philippines
Nepenthes mira
1550
1605
Philippines
Nepenthes appendiculata
1450
1700
Borneo
Nepenthes burkei
1100
2000
Philippines
Nepenthes pulchra
1300
1800
Philippines
Nepenthes macfarlanei
900
2150
Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes boschiana
1200
1800
Borneo
Nepenthes burbidgeae
1200
1800
Borneo
Nepenthes eymae
1000
2000
Sulawesi
Nepenthes nebularum
1200
1800
Philippines
Nepenthes ventricosa
1000
2000
Philippines
Nepenthes tentaculata
400
2550
Borneo, Sulawesi
Nepenthes klossii
930
2000
New Guinea
Nepenthes tboli
1413
1513
Philippines
Nepenthes paniculata
1410
1510
New Guinea
Nepenthes chaniana
1100
1800
Borneo
Nepenthes ramispina
900
2000
Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes fusca
300
2500
Borneo
Nepenthes glandulifera
1100
1700
Borneo
Nepenthes hamiguitanensis
1200
1600
Philippines
Nepenthes leonardoi
1300
1490
Philippines
Nepenthes sibuyanensis
1250
1500
Philippines
Nepenthes micramphora
1100
1635
Philippines
Nepenthes minima
1000
1700
Sulawesi
Nepenthes maxima
40
2600
Very wide
Nepenthes justinae
1000
1620
Philippines
Nepenthes rigidifolia
1000
1600
Sumatra
Nepenthes peltata
865
1635
Philippines
Nepenthes vogelii
1000
1500
Borneo
Nepenthes deaniana
1180
1296
Philippines
Nepenthes alata
550
1900
Philippines
Nepenthes junghuhnii
1170
1270
Sumatra
Nepenthes aenigma
1150
1250
Philippines
Nepenthes pudica
1100
1300
Borneo
Nepenthes palawanensis
1100
1236
Philippines
Nepenthes dactylifera
800
1500
Borneo
Nepenthes platychila
900
1400
Borneo
Nepenthes reinwardtiana
0
2200
Borneo, Sumatra
Nepenthes tenuis
1000
1200
Sumatra
Nepenthes tobaica
380
1800
Sumatra
Nepenthes ampullaria
0
2100
Very wide
Nepenthes sanguinea
300
1800
Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand
Nepenthes negros
670
1400
Philippines
Nepenthes ramos
670
1400
Philippines
Nepenthes cornuta
950
1050
Philippines
Nepenthes epiphytica
950
1050
Borneo
Nepenthes faizaliana
400
1600
Borneo
Nepenthes khasiana
500
1500
India
Nepenthes surigaoensis
800
1200
Philippines
Nepenthes talaandig
950
1050
Philippines
Nepenthes bokorensis
800
1080
Cambodia
Nepenthes adnata
600
1200
Sumatra
Nepenthes leyte
850
950
Philippines
Nepenthes erucoides
800
929
Philippines
Nepenthes eustachya
0
1600
Sumatra
Nepenthes veitchii
0
1600
Borneo
Nepenthes graciliflora
300
1280
Philippines
Nepenthes cid
720
820
Philippines
Nepenthes armin
700
800
Philippines
Nepenthes benstonei
150
1350
Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes macrovulgaris
300
1200
Borneo
Nepenthes mapuluensis
700
800
Borneo
Nepenthes mirabilis
0
1500
Very wide
Nepenthes smilesii
0
1500
Southeast Asia
Nepenthes truncata
0
1500
Philippines
Nepenthes weda
415
1014
Halmahera, Indonesia
Nepenthes clipeata
600
800
Borneo
Nepenthes holdenii
600
800
Cambodia
Nepenthes longifolia
300
1100
Sumatra
Nepenthes mindanaoensis
0
1400
Philippines
Nepenthes neoguineensis
0
1400
New Guinea
Nepenthes abgracilis
620
720
Philippines
Nepenthes hirsuta
200
1100
Borneo
Nepenthes krabiensis
600
700
Thailand
Nepenthes papuana
0
1300
New Guinea
Nepenthes rafflesiana
0
1200
Very wide
Nepenthes albomarginata
0
1100
Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra
Nepenthes gracilis
0
1100
Very wide
Nepenthes merrilliana
0
1100
Philippines
Nepenthes pervillei
350
750
Seychelles
Nepenthes thai
500
600
Thailand
Nepenthes rosea
450
520
Thailand
Nepenthes chang
300
600
Thailand
Nepenthes hispida
100
800
Borneo
Nepenthes kerrii
400
500
Thailand
Nepenthes insignis
0
850
New Guinea
Nepenthes vieillardii
0
850
New Caledonia
Nepenthes beccariana
0
800
Sumatra
Nepenthes bellii
0
800
Philippines
Nepenthes extincta
350
450
Philippines
Nepenthes sumatrana
0
800
Sumatra
Nepenthes halmahera
10
760
Halmahera, Indonesia
Nepenthes bicalcarata
0
700
Borneo
Nepenthes distillatoria
0
700
Sri Lanka
Nepenthes kampotiana
0
600
Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
Nepenthes philippinensis
0
600
Philippines
Nepenthes samar
0
600
Philippines
Nepenthes madagascariensis
0
500
Madagascar
Nepenthes northiana
0
500
Borneo
Nepenthes tomoriana
0
500
Sulawesi
Nepenthes campanulata
100
300
Borneo, Philippines
Nepenthes masoalensis
0
400
Madagascar
Nepenthes ultra
0
400
Philippines
Nepenthes danseri
0
320
Halmahera, Indonesia
Nepenthes hemsleyana
0
200
Borneo
Nepenthes suratensis
0
200
Thailand
Nepenthes thorelii
0
200
Vietnam
Nepenthes viridis
0
120
Philippines
Nepenthes parvula
0
80
Australia
Nepenthes rowaniae
0
80
Australia
Nepenthes tenax
0
80
Australia
Nepenthes treubiana
0
80
New Guinea
Nepenthes abalata
0
50
Philippines
Nepenthes andamana
0
50
Thailand
Nepenthes kongkandana
0
50
Thailand
3. Nepenthes Cultivation
Where to grow Tropical pitcher plants
There are over 160 species of Nepenthes, plus countless natural and cultivated hybrids. Their habitats are hugely diverse, and some are far more adaptable growers than others. For this reason, it’s very difficult to offer generalised advice which is applicable to all tropical pitcher plants! The guidance below is a good starting point, but one that will need to be adapted to suit your chosen species.
When selecting a location for your Nepenthes, you must consider light, temperature, humidity, and space. Most tropical pitcher plants grow in the upper canopy of the rainforest and prefer very bright light, but without much direct sun. Diffused or partial sun is ideal, but high-powered fluorescent lights (such as T5 growlights) can also work well. Spindly leaves and a lack of colouration are signs of insufficient light. Nepenthes do not require a winter dormancy, but the shorter daylight hours will often slow them down over the colder season.
Temperatures should be within the ranges illustrated on the charts above. For most intermediate and highland species, 25°C during the day and 15°C at night is ideal. True lowland species require closer to 30°C days and 20°C nights, and can be killed by cold snaps. Humidity should ideally be high - a lack of developing pitchers can be a sign of low humidity. Don’t forget you can monitor your conditions using a temperature and humidity sensor to determine which species could grow well for you.
Terrariums: Paired with T5 growlights, a large terrarium can be a great way to grow young plants. Remember that Nepenthes can get very large and will produce climbing vines - these will need to be pruned!
Windowsills: Some easy-to-grow species (see below for suggestions) can adapt to the lower humidity of a bright windowsill, providing their other requirements are met. Daily misting can help to raise humidity.
Greenhouses: A heated greenhouse is undoubtedly the best way to grow a wide variety of Nepenthes species on a large scale - you can read about my own greenhouse setup here. The resources recommended at the end of this guide provide more detail on advanced areas of cultivation.
Grow Chambers: If you wish to grow highland and ultra-highland species but struggle to provide the necessary low temperatures, the chest freezer method can be a great way to grow younger plants of the ultra highland species.
Beginner-Friendly Species
Note that Nepenthes hybrids are often easier growers than pure species plants (on account of so-called ‘hybrid vigour’). As such, don’t limit yourself to just species when looking to start your collection.
Below I have listed a few Nepenthes species and hybrids which are known to tolerate a wide range of conditions, along with some of the hybrids you’ll frequently find in garden centres and large nurseries.
N. x ventrata: A hybrid between N. ventricosa and N. alata, this plant is often mislabeled as N. alata. It has pretty pitchers that are pink to orange in colour and is a very tolerant cross. Buy Now.
N. ‘Bloody Mary’: A popular cultivar for terrariums, this is a beautiful hybrid between N. ventricosa and N. ampullaria. It has small, tubby, scarlet pitchers on glossy green leaves, and can grow into a very bushy plant! Buy Now.
N. ‘Gaya’: A vigorous grower with red and yellow speckled pitchers, this cultivar is N. khasiana x (ventricosa x maxima). It’s a particularly good candidate for a houseplant. Buy Now.
N. veitchii: A beautiful species and one of my favourites, N. veitchii has squat traps with wide peristomes and is covered in fuzzy brown hair. It’s particularly adaptable to lower humidity environments, a trait often passed to its hybrid offspring. I’ve written a detailed species showcase of Nepenthes veitchii, which I recommend reading!
N. maxima: Red patterning on a green background with a large, flamboyant red peristome (lip). Available in many varieties (including the famous wavy-leaf form), this is an attractive plant which is particularly adaptable to warmer conditions.
Nepenthes for beginners! From left to right, N. 'Rebecca Soper', N. maxima, N. 'Bloody Mary'.
Soil for Nepenthes
Nepenthes are very tolerant when it comes to soil. They enjoy a loose, low-nutrition growing medium which keeps their roots aerated and allows excess water to quickly drain away while still retaining some moisture.
Popular mixtures tend to include a combination of long-fibered sphagnum moss, orchid bark, tree fern fiber, coconut husk fiber, sand, perlite, and pumice rock in varying ratios. Many growers successfully grow their highlanders in pure long-fibered sphagnum moss. Exactly how coarse your soil should be is dependent on numerous other factors, including ambient humidity, frequency of watering, and the species and age of your plant.
As a general rule, however, a mixture of long-fibered sphagnum moss, perlite, and - optionally - orchid bark works well. If you plan to mix your own compost, I highly recommend The Sphagnum Shop as the best place to buy high quality New Zealand sphagnum in the UK - you can use the code TOMS10% to get 10% off your order.
Water frequently, keeping the soil damp at all times and never letting it dry out. Unlike many other carnivores, Nepenthes are not bog plants and do not appreciate having waterlogged soil. As such, avoid standing them in water for extended periods, since this will cause root rot.
Nepenthes are far more tolerant of water impurities than other carnivorous plants. Whereas American pitcher plants (Sarracenia) will quickly deteriorate if given hard water from the tap, tropical pitcher plants do not seem to mind as much. Impurities can build up over time, however, and will often accelerate the breakdown of your soil mixture. For long-term healthy growth, stick to rainwater, distilled or deionised water, or water purified using a reverse-osmosis (RO) system.
What to feed your Tropical pitcher plant
If you are growing your Nepenthes where they will not be able to catch their own food, dried insects can be dropped into the pitchers every few week weeks. These should be small enough to fit comfortably inside the pitcher. Do not overfeed, or your plant’s pitchers may turn black and rot.
My recommended foods for Venus flytraps will all work, but dried crickets are particularly suitable for Nepenthes. For experienced growers with larger collections, I would also recommend Osmocote Flower and Vegetable pellets - I tried these following recommendations from Peter D’Amato and Natch Greyes, and the results have been excellent.
Unlike many other carnivores, Nepenthes can also benefit from foliar fertilisation. During the spring & summer, spraying your plant with a weak solution of high-quality orchid fertiliser several times a month can help promote good growth. However, you should remember that no fertiliser is better than too much, and look to take care of all your plant’s other needs (lighting, temperature, humidity, and so on) before thinking about feeding & fertilisation.
From left to right, Nepenthes lowii, Nepenthes veitchii, Nepenthes macrophylla.
Further Reading & Links
If you’re interested in Nepenthes hybridisation, flowers & pollination, propagation methods, or other advanced areas of cultivation, I’ve listed some recommended resources and expert blogs below. This list is obviously not comprehensive!
The Savage Garden, by Peter D’Amato. In my opinion, this is the best introduction to carnivorous plants you can buy. Its chapters on Nepenthes are detailed and accessible and include some brilliant photography. Available on Amazon.
Pitcher Plants of the Old World. This two-volume monograph by Stewart McPherson is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in the genus. His beautiful hardbacks include photography and detailed descriptions of all known species. The two volumes were supplemented in 2011 by a follow-up book exploring new discoveries (Volume 1, Volume 2, New Nepenthes).
Identify my Nepenthes. If you’re not sure what species you’ve got, you could try putting it into the Nepenthes Species Identifier. This is an AI-powered image recognition app which can identify many popular pitcher plant species.
If you’re looking to buy a tropical pitcher plant you might want to take a look at my shop. Got a question? Please send me an email.