Description & Care

Nepenthes attenboroughii is one of my favorite species of carnivorous plant. A relatively recent discovery, N. attenboroughii was first described in 2007 by a team of botanists led by Stewart McPherson. It grows only on the slopes of Mount Victoria, on the Philippine island of Palawan. The plant is named after the brilliant Sir David Attenborough, who is also a Nepenthes enthusiast - fans of his work will remember the many carnivorous plant segments in his documentaries.

The species is famous for its huge bell-shaped pitchers, which can grow up to 30cm tall and are among the largest in the whole Nepenthes genus. They vary in colour and shape, but their upright lids mean they are always held open to the elements and so often fill right to the brim with fluid. In the wild they’ve been documented to trap and digest small mammals such as shrews. Because of its desirability among collectors, and due to its very restricted distribution, N. attenboroughii is critically endangered in the wild. It faces the threat of extinction from poaching, and plants should only ever be sourced from reputable growers and nurseries. This is one of the reasons I aspire to produce species seed of N. attenboroughii in the future - I’m hoping I have a male and a female in my collection…

I’ve found Nepenthes attenboroughii’s reputation as a very slow grower to be somewhat exaggerated. They can be quite fussy about conditions, and some individuals are certainly slower than others, but once you’ve found a spot they like and given them time to establish, I’ve found they can grow at a steady pace. N. attenboroughii benefits from an ultramafic soil and a deep pot, lots of fertiliser or dead bugs in the pitchers, bright light, and decent airflow!