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Nepenthes Interactive Guide: The Species Calculator

Nepenthes Interactive Guide
The Species Calculator

Tom Bennet Tom Bennet of Tom's Carnivores
By Tom Bennet
Last updated on
I've been growing a wide variety of carnivorous plants for over 2 decades. I got my first Venus flytrap at age 10 and now have an entire greenhouse full of carnivores.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.

As with all plants, the key to successfully growing Nepenthes in cultivation is the ability to replicate the conditions of their natural habitat.

Most of the 170+ 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. But their cross-fertile nature has resulted in countless unique hybrids, both in cultivation and in the wild.

This guide aims to help growers of Nepenthes estimate the requirements of specific plants. It comprises two tools: (1) a calculator which visualises the temperatures likely preferred by a given species or hybrid, and (2) an interactive list of every Nepenthes species, which can be sorted and filtered according to altitude and locale.

Happy growing!

1. The Nepenthes Calculator

Enter species (e.g. rajah):

N.
x
Created with Highcharts 12.2.0LowlandIntermediateHighlandUltra HighlandElevation (meters)Temperature °C0250500750100012501500175020002250250027503000325035000510152025303540

2. Nepenthes Species List


Created with Highcharts 12.2.0LowlandIntermediateHighlandUltra HighlandElevation (meters)3520m3520m2900m2900m2800m2800m3200m3200m2900m2900m2642m2642m3240m3240m2370m2370m2600m2600m2300m2300m2423m2423m2500m2500m2700m2700m2700m2700m2500m2500m2600m2600m2150m2150m2700m2700m2650m2650m2600m2600m2400m2400m2620m2620m2200m2200m2900m2900m2500m2500m2200m2200m2100m2100m2100m2100m2800m2800m2247m2247m2100m2100m2100m2100m2187m2187m2085m2085m2700m2700m2100m2100m2750m2750m1900m1900m2400m2400m1850m1850m1900m1900m2000m2000m1850m1850m2200m2200m1850m1850m2150m2150m2400m2400m2000m2000m2100m2100m1905m1905m2000m2000m2800m2800m2600m2600m1784m1784m1880m1880m1875m1875m1900m1900m1900m1900m2000m2000m2500m2500m1650m1650m1800m1800m1800m1800m1726m1726m1657m1657m1605m1605m1700m1700m2000m2000m1800m1800m2150m2150m1800m1800m1800m1800m2000m2000m2000m2000m1600m1600m2550m2550m2000m2000m2000m2000m1513m1513m1510m1510m1800m1800m2000m2000m1950m1950m1700m1700m1600m1600m1490m1490m1440m1440m1500m1500m1635m1635m1800m1800m1700m1700m2600m2600m1620m1620m1600m1600m1350m1350m1635m1635m1500m1500m1296m1296m1270m1270m1250m1250m1300m1300m1600m1600m1236m1236m1400m1400m1650m1650m1900m1900m2200m2200m1200m1200m1800m1800m2100m2100m1800m1800m1100m1100m1400m1400m1050m1050m1050m1050m1050m1050m1600m1600m1500m1500m1200m1200m1050m1050m1300m1300m1020m1020m1020m1020m1080m1080m1000m1000m1200m1200m950m950m1000m1000m929m929m1600m1600m1600m1600m820m820m800m800m1350m1350m1200m1200m800m800m1500m1500m1500m1500m1500m1500m760m760m1014m1014m800m800m800m800m1100m1100m1400m1400m1400m1400m850m850m720m720m1100m1100m700m700m1300m1300m1280m1280m1200m1200m1200m1200m1100m1100m1100m1100m1100m1100m750m750m600m600m520m520m600m600m800m800m500m500m850m850m850m850m800m800m800m800m450m450m800m800m700m700m700m700m375m375m600m600m600m600m600m600m345m345m500m500m500m500m500m500m300m300m400m400m400m400m320m320m200m200m200m200m200m200m80m80m80m80m80m80m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m50m2700m2700m2400m2400m2200m2200m1700m1700m2000m2000m2200m2200m1600m1600m2270m2270m2000m2000m2200m2200m2000m2000m1800m1800m1600m1600m1600m1600m1800m1800m1650m1650m2050m2050m1500m1500m1500m1500m1500m1500m1700m1700m1400m1400m1800m1800m1100m1100m1400m1400m1700m1700m1800m1800m1800m1800m1100m1100m1600m1600m1700m1700m1700m1700m1600m1600m1700m1700m1000m1000m1600m1600m950m950m1800m1800m1300m1300m1750m1750m1700m1700m1600m1600m1750m1750m1400m1400m1750m1750m1400m1400m1100m1100m1500m1500m1400m1400m1500m1500m1400m1400m600m600m800m800m1600m1600m1500m1500m1500m1500m1450m1450m1400m1400m1300m1300m800m800m1550m1550m1400m1400m1400m1400m1450m1450m1500m1500m1550m1550m1450m1450m1100m1100m1300m1300m900m900m1200m1200m1200m1200m1000m1000m1000m1000m1400m1400m400m400m950m950m930m930m1413m1413m1410m1410m1100m1100m900m900m900m900m1100m1100m1200m1200m1300m1300m1340m1340m1250m1250m1100m1100m900m900m1000m1000m40m40m1000m1000m1000m1000m1250m1250m865m865m1000m1000m1180m1180m1170m1170m1150m1150m1100m1100m750m750m1100m1100m900m900m550m550m300m300m0m0m1000m1000m380m380m0m0m300m300m1000m1000m670m670m1000m1000m950m950m950m950m400m400m500m500m800m800m950m950m700m700m970m970m970m970m800m800m850m850m600m600m850m850m800m800m800m800m0m0m0m0m720m720m700m700m150m150m300m300m700m700m0m0m0m0m0m0m710m710m415m415m600m600m600m600m300m300m0m0m0m0m500m500m620m620m200m200m600m600m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m350m350m500m500m450m450m300m300m100m100m400m400m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m350m350m0m0m0m0m0m0m325m325m0m0m0m0m0m0m160m160m0m0m0m0m0m0m100m100m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0m0100020003000-25025050075012501500175022502500275032503500N. lamiiN. diatasN. angasanensisN. densifloraN. singalanaN. macrophyllaN. villosaN. putaiguneungN. lavicolaN. diabolicaN. murudensisN. aristolochioidesN. dubiaN. edwardsianaN. talangensisN. lowiiN. maryaeN. nigraN. rajahN. inermisN. muluensisN. monticolaN. flavaN. spathulataN. hamataN. jacquelineaeN. jambanN. kitangladN. mikeiN. sumagayaN. lingulataN. ovataN. albaN. mantalingajanensisN. bongsoN. glabrataN. pectinataN. xiphioidesN. mollisN. alzapanN. izumiaeN. rhombicaulisN. robcantleyiN. spectabilisN. undulatifoliaN. fractiflexaN. copelandiiN. nagaN. berbuluN. barcelonaeN. gracillimaN. gymnamphoraN. stenophyllaN. gantungensisN. ceciliaeN. zygonN. petiolataN. argentiiN. ephippiataN. zakrianaN. pilosaN. pitopangiiN. nebularumN. attenboroughiiN. macfarlaneiN. miraN. appendiculataN. burkeiN. pulchraN. sericeaN. boschianaN. burbidgeaeN. eymaeN. ventricosaN. fuscaN. tentaculataN. adrianiiN. klossiiN. tboliN. paniculataN. chanianaN. ramispinaN. taminiiN. glanduliferaN. hamiguitanensisN. leonardoiN. pantaronensisN. sibuyanensisN. micramphoraN. ulukalianaN. minimaN. maximaN. justinaeN. rigidifoliaN. negrosN. peltataN. vogeliiN. deanianaN. junghuhniiN. aenigmaN. pudicaN. longipteraN. palawanensisN. platychilaN. alataN. dactyliferaN. reinwardtianaN. tenuisN. tobaicaN. ampullariaN. sanguineaN. latiffianaN. ramosN. cabanaeN. cornutaN. epiphyticaN. faizalianaN. khasianaN. surigaoensisN. talaandigN. harauensisN. malimumuensisN. manoboN. bokorensisN. domeiN. adnataN. leyteN. malayensisN. erucoidesN. eustachyaN. veitchiiN. cidN. saranganiensisN. benstoneiN. macrovulgarisN. mapuluensisN. mirabilisN. smilesiiN. truncataN. bracteosaN. wedaN. clipeataN. holdeniiN. longifoliaN. mindanaoensisN. neoguineensisN. arminN. abgracilisN. hirsutaN. krabiensisN. papuanaN. gracilifloraN. rafflesianaN. halmaheraN. albomarginataN. gracilisN. merrillianaN. pervilleiN. thaiN. roseaN. changN. hispidaN. kerriiN. insignisN. vieillardiiN. beccarianaN. belliiN. extinctaN. sumatranaN. bicalcarataN. distillatoriaN. hirtellaN. kampotianaN. philippinensisN. samarN. alfedoiN. madagascariensisN. northianaN. tomorianaN. campanulataN. masoalensisN. ultraN. danseriN. hemsleyanaN. suratensisN. thoreliiN. rowaniaeN. tenaxN. treubianaN. viridisN. parvulaN. abalataN. andamanaN. kongkandanaN. biakN. orbiculataN. tayninhensisN. misoolensis

Looking to buy a tropical pitcher plant?

If you’re in the UK, try Hampshire Carnivorous Plants. Matt Soper offers a brilliant selection of Nepenthes suitable for growers of all skill levels, as well as growing supplies like compost and pots.

If you’re in the United States, I can wholeheartedly recommend California Carnivores. They offer a fantastic range of Nepenthes species and hybrids suitable for growers of all abilities. You can also get 10% off your order with the code tomscarnivores.

Plants bought from specialist nurseries tend to be much stronger than those from hardware / DIY stores. You’ll also get better advice on successful cultivation, and you’ll be supporting a small business!

Still want to learn more?

If you’re interested in learning about general Nepenthes cultivation, such as soil preferences, light levels, and water, I recommend you check out my Complete Guide to Tropical Pitcher Plants.

I’d also highly recommend the following resources:

Top photo: Nepenthes villosa, by Brad Wilson

Happy growing!