Nepenthes lowii x edwardsiana
A seedling of N. lowii x edwardsiana 'EP' - this is how mine looked after about 6 months of owning it. 
Even as a young plant, the pitchers exhibit stunning colour and dentition. 
I really like the lid on this cross - it consistently has a bright yellow underside with a red rim, matching the rest of the pitcher colour. 
My plant as it looks today. Not long til vining starts - I can't wait to see the uppers! 
Starting to put on some size... 
While mine's still making lower pitchers, I expect the real show will be in the uppers - perhaps a taller, larger, toothier version of Nepenthes x trusmadiensis. Description & Care
Nepenthes lowii x edwardsiana is one of those hybrids I knew I had to own as soon as I heard about it. N. lowii and N. edwardsiana are two of my favourite species, both are known to make great hybrids, and both hail from Borneo. While I grow my fair share of man-made and complex hybrids, I do have an irrational preference for primary hybrids which could have existed naturally in the wild, at some point in the past.
To the best of my knowledge, this cross has only been made twice: first by Exotica Plants in Australia (this is where my plant comes from) and second by the ‘Nepenthes God’ himself, Jeff Shafer of Colorado in the US.
While definitely a faster and easier grower than either parent species, it’s not got as much ‘hybrid vigour’ as many other crosses. For this reason, along with its high price, I’d be reluctant to recommend it unless you’re an experienced grower and have grown at least one of the parent species successfully.
As you’ll see from my photos above, it makes magnificent pitchers. They’re vibrantly striped in yellow and red, and inherit a great deal of toothiness from the male parent. I’ve found that N. edwardsiana seems to pass more prominent dentition onto its offpspring than many other toothy highlanders, such as N. villosa and N. hamata.
I am excited to see the upper pitchers in this cross. I expect they’ll resemble Nepenthes x trusmadiensis, but perhaps end up larger, more elongated, and perhaps toothier on account of the male parent.
How I Grow It
| Media | Long fibre sphagnum moss, perlite, and - optionally - orchid bark (2:1:1). |
| Water | Damp but not wet. Seems to prefer it on the drier side, a bit like N. edwardsiana. |
| Light | Very bright, diffused light. |
| Fertiliser | I feed the pitchers with liquid orchid feed or Maxsea, but avoid root fertilisation. This is on the basis that N. edwardsiana never seems to like that. |
| Temperatures | 12°C (54°F) minimum year-round, with summer highs of ~ 30°C (86°F). |
| Humidity | 70% during the day, rising to over 90% at night. |
Learn more about cultivation with my guide to growing Nepenthes.
Day & Night Temperatures
The female parent - Nepenthes lowii - is a highland species found at elevations of between 1650 and 2600 meters. The male parent - Nepenthes edwardsiana - is a highland species found at elevations of between 1600 and 2700 meters.
On average, the hybrid N. lowii x edwardsiana is likely to grow best with temperatures of approximately 19 - 27°C during the day, and 9 - 17°C at night. This range is highlighted in purple above. For further guidance on the cultivation requirements of hybrids, try out my Nepenthes Interactive Guide .
Buying N. lowii x edwardsiana
| Availability | Not in tissue culture as far as I know, so only available from cuttings. Very difficult to find. |
| Borneo Exotics codes |
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| Recommended nursery | California Carnivores Hampshire Carnivorous Plants |
