N. maxima "piernensis" X (northiana X veitchii)
purchase date: 6 / 06
arrived as a rooted cutting
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken:  12 / 06

Nepenthes maxima X (northiana X veitchii) is an Exotica Plants hybrid between a lowlander and a highlander. Their parent plant N. northiana X veitchii is stunning. This plant arrived as a rooted cutting from Exotica's stock and this is the first pitcher produced that I believe is an upper pitcher. There are no ground shoots on this plant yet and that's why I believe this to be an upper pitcher. Other photos of other growers' plants are a bit more colorful. The pitcher itself should have more coloration if it were a lower. This plant is grown in a hanging basket outdoors and is a steady grower. It appears easy to grow as a highlander but should be able to be grown as an intermediate and possibly as a lowlander because of the parentage.Availability of this plant is limited due to Exotica taking cuttings of their plants they keep for themselves. It seems like once a year hybrids made in the past surface briefly as cuttings and are snatched up quickly. Sometimes the cuttings appear at auctions or from private growers but usually more expensive than from Exotica themselves.

Cultivation: appears easy outdoors, quicker grower indoors as an intermediate or lowlander
Market availability: rooted cuttings;  limited availability
Species variability: some among the original seed grown plants
$ / size: moderate to expensive; $40.00 and up
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: unknown