pitcher is lighter color when it opens

N. lowii (c) Mt. Kinabalu
purchase date: 2 / 08
arrived as a large plant
plant origin: Exotica Plants

Nepenthes lowii is one of the classic highland Nepenthes. This species is famous for its hourglass pitcher and exaggerated peristome in the upper pitchers. Unfortunately it is a very slow growing species. I have different sizes of this species from Borneo Exotics and a few seed grown plants from Exotica Plants. Most I've had for a few years and are beginning to really settle in. It seems that most of the N. lowiis available are around 4 to 6 inches and seem to grow slowly and take their time to acclimate before putting out bigger growth. When they get about 8 inches across the new growth gets much larger and the plants appear to "take off" from that point. My bigger plant just put out its first upper pitchers and it is about 12 inches across.The tendril interfered with the growth of the pitcher so the peristome didn't quite open up to its potential but it does have the classic N. lowii shape. 

Cultivation: slow grower; faster grower around 8 inches or so
Market availability: size 2, size 3, possible larger specimens; common
Species variability: differences depending on locality, but overall not highly variable
$ / size: inexpensive to collector's plant;  $20.00 to $100.00 +  for larger specimen plants
Cuttings: none available
Sex: unknown