Nepenthes izumiae first became available around 2004. I recall seeing the first photos at Exotica Plants website. Their photos showed the species as a dark brownish black pitcher with a ridged peristome. The Nepenthes Nursery was the first to have them available and then followed up by Borneo Exotics. I have many small plants that have been very slow growers. This species has been difficult for me to get to grow outdoors from a small stage for some reason. So when larger plants became available through Borneo Exotics, I ordered one. The pitcher is a solid dark brown right now. It seems to grow at the same speed as N. lowii and N. macrophylla: very slow! Exotica Plants has done some hybridizing with N. izumiae of which their N. truncata cross I grow and does well for me outdoors. I'd heard that they had this plant in their collection for a while before it was finally elevated to species status as N. izumiae. Now that Borneo Exotics is releasing larger plants, still very expensive, prices may come down in the next few years.