Description & Care

Nepenthes aristolochioides is a fascinating and unique plant from Sumatra. First discovered by Dutch botanist Willem Meijer in 1956, the species went largely forgotten for the next 30 years. Only when Meijer’s specimen was found in Leiden University’s herbarium in 1988 was scientific interest in the species again sparked. In June 1996, botanists Katrin Hinderhofer and Joachim Nerz organised a field trip to Sumatra and successfully rediscovered N. aristolochioides.

The species is best known for its extremely unusual pitchers. They are domed or ‘hunchbacked’, with a near-vertical opening, and have translucent patches opposite the mouth which allow light to pass through. This is known as a lobster-pot trap, and it attracts and confuses flying insects in a similar manner to Sarracenia minor, Darlingtonia californica, and Nepenthes klossii.

I grow several forms of N. aristolochioides, both seed-grown plants and clones from Wistuba. I’ve found this species to be quite a fast grower in good highland conditions - just make sure you can provide cool nights, otherwise it sulks. It rapidly reaches the vining stage, and with a large (15cm+) gap between leaves it can reach quite a height! Another characteristic I’ve spotted is how readily it activates aerial nodes (i.e. produces offshoots from the climbing vine). Despite producing so much vine, I’ve found this species quite tricky to root successfully.

N. aristolochioides is close to extinction in the wild, largely due to poaching by collectors. As with all Nepenthes, you should only ever buy from reputable nurseries.