Nepenthes spathulata x lowii
An all-red pitcher on this brilliant cross 
Close-up of the colourful, ridged peristome 
Colouration varies by time of year, light level, and stage of growth 
Lovely flared peristome. Also note how many old pitchers are held on the plant at once 
This individual now has 2 growth points, meaning I get to enjoy the basal pitchers while it vines 
This is still the same plant. Green pitcher body reminiscent of N. spathulata, and lid bristles from N. lowii 
Wide mouth on the first upper pitcher. I actually prefer the lowers on this cross Description & Care
Nepenthes spathulata is a very common hybrid parent. Look through Borneo Exotics’ catalog, and you’ll find dozens upon dozens of hybrids involving this Sumatran species. I believe this is because it’s a robust, easy-growing, and - dare I say it - somewhat nondescript species. I guess it’s similar to Nepenthes maxima in this regard (although I find N. maxima to be a far more attractive species). Both pass tolerance and vigour onto their hybrid offspring without dominating their physical characteristics.
N. spathulata x lowii is a great demonstration of why N. spathulata is a popular hybrid parent. It exhibits many of the appealing characteristics of Nepenthes lowii - lid bristles, a stripy ridged peristome, robust pitchers, strikingly distorted uppers - while being faster and easier to grow.
I bought this particular plant on a visit to Chris Klein’s nursery in Germany, in 2019. While the same cross has been produced by Borneo Exotics in the years since, I personally find these seed-grown plants from Chris to be more attractive. The lower pitchers are particularly stunning - while usually red with a beautifully striped peristome, they’re occasionally bright green depending on light and temperatures, making for a lovely contrast.
Mine’s a male and flowers almost constantly, putting pollen everywhere. He’s a bit of a greenhouse brute. Every cutting I’ve taken has flowered immediately from stress, then rooted without any problems and immediately started churning out big chunky pitchers. A fun, easy-growing hybrid that I’d recommend for beginners!
How I Grow It
| Media | Long fibre sphagnum moss, perlite, and - optionally - orchid bark (2:1:1). |
| Water | Damp but not wet. |
| Light | Very bright, diffused light. |
| Fertiliser | This cross can take a lot - I fill pitchers with Maxsea / liquid orchid feed every two weeks. |
| 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 spathulata - is a highland species found at elevations of between 1100 and 2900 meters. The male parent - Nepenthes lowii - is a highland species found at elevations of between 1650 and 2600 meters.
On average, the hybrid N. spathulata x lowii is likely to grow best with temperatures of approximately 18 - 28°C during the day, and 8 - 18°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. spathulata x lowii
| Availability | The BE release isn't too difficult to get hold of, though releases from other nurseries are harder to come by. |
| Borneo Exotics codes |
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| Recommended nursery | California Carnivores Hampshire Carnivorous Plants |
See Also
I've written profiles of these related hybrids:
