N. eustachya "purple"
purchase date: 2 / 02
arrived as a rooted cutting
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken: 9 / 03

N. eustachya "red x white"
purchase date: 8 / 03
arrived as a size 3
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken: 10 / 04

Nepenthes eustachya is a lowlander / highlander. I guess that makes it an intermediate. I used Clarke's book "Nepenthes of Sumatra" before purchasing my plant. He says it is found up to 1600m. I draw my line at about 1000m in nature to decide trying Nepenthes outside. I've had my purple variety for about a year and a half which I bought as a rooted cutting. It took quite a while before deciding to pitcher. It's supposed to be similar to N. alata in appearance and pitcher shape as described in some literature. I can see the similarities with my plants. However, it hasn't been as vigorous a grower as N. alata. Pitchers are cylindrical and are uniform. It doesn't produce lower "squat" forms that I'm aware of. The other version pictured is the "red X white". I like this plant as well because of the red and striping in the peristome that the purple color variant lacks. Clarke's book has a picture that is very close to the "red X white" (might even be the same plant) which is very cool. This plant should give you no problems and is relatively easy to cultivate.

Cultivation: easy; moderate grower, faster in vining stage
Market availability: size 3 to rooted cuttings; common
Species variability: purple, red x white, red x purple
$ / size: inexpensive to moderate $20.00 and up for larger specimens
Cuttings: available at times for trade from the purple variety
Sex: male