Nepenthes x kinabaluensis (villosa x rajah) in cultivation

Asian Pitcher plant species: Sumatra, Indonesia

Altitude: 2420 to 3030 (7940-9941 feet) meters above sea level

Nepenthes × kinabaluensis on Mt. Kinabalu by Jeremiah Harris licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Close up of N x kinabaluensis growing in the moss May 2017

Nepenthes x kinabaluensis seedling June 2017.

Nepenthes x kinabaluensis is a natural hybrid from two of the most sought after Nepenthes species, N. villosa and N. rajah. I got my plant from Jeremiah Harris when he was at the BACPS Show and Sale in 2015. My understanding is that these were found in seeds from a N. villosa and were identified as kinabaluensis when they got bigger. The only other place I’ve seen them available is from Jeremiah on fleabay.

This species has not been especially difficult and it did not take long to settle in. This species is definitely one that will require a few years to get big. Definitely faster than the parents, but be aware that it is a commitment. If anyone has experience with N. kinabaluensis you can share please let me know in the comments below!

Nepenthes × kinabaluensis Cultivation and Care Notes

• Slow grower, faster than both parents, and much easier but still slow.
• Is from mossy forest and appreciates higher humidity and sphagnum moss.
• I have only ever seen seed grown plants available once from Jeremiah Harris that came from villosa seed.
• Extremely rare in cultivation, only found in one place on Kinabalu so not surprising.
• Has no problems growing happily in intermediate with days around 85F (29C) and nights around 65F (18C)

More information available at Nepenthes x kinabaluensis wiki 

If you want to learn more about cultivation of carnivorous plants, I highly recommend the comprehensive grow guide The Savage Garden, Revised: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants by Peter D,Amato. It is very easy to follow and reference and contains pictures and cultivation techniques for every genus of carnivorous plants.

If you want to learn more about Nepenthes  or other pitcher plants, and see pictures of these spectacular species in the wild, I highly recommend reading Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume One and Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume Two