Nepenthes gracilis is a scrambling vine that wraps its tendrils around anything for support. It's also a lowlander that has a few color variations. I've seen them in green, spotted, and an all black form in the poster "Nepenthes of Sarawak". I am growing the purple variety as a windowsill plant and the purple black version outdoors. My windowsill specimen is doing well with no problems.  N. gracilis does excellently in lowland conditions and is considered a good starter plant for the terrarium. However I'm trying to cross one over to highland conditions outdoors with moderate success. One specimen that went through winter did stress by slowing down and ceased producing new growth. When spring returned, it started producing new growth and new pitchers. There was definite leaf burn due to less humidity and lower temperatures. However I have had temps in the low 40's and N. gracilis has put up with those so far. I believe I can push this species to grow as an intermediate outdoors as per some of my other hardy lowlanders.

Cultivation: easy as a lowlander, excellent starter plant for the terrarium or windowsill; moderate to semi-difficult outdoors. Expect stress in winter.
Market availability: size 3, rooted cuttings, to larger plants; extremely common, black varieties are rarest
Species variability: green, spotted, black, nigra purpurea, purple / black
$ / size: inexpensive to moderate; $10.00 and up (black variety more expensive)
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: unknown