N. X trusmadiensis (N. lowii x macrophylla)
purchase date: 5 / 05
arrived as a size 3
plant origin: Borneo Exotics
photo taken:  6 / 09

Nepenthes X trusmadiensis is a naturally occurring hybrid between two fantastic species: N. lowii and N. macrophylla. This is truly one of the most sought after hybrids available for obvious reasons. Pitchers have much of the hourglass shape from N. lowii with more teeth from N. macrophylla. Borneo Exotics, Exotica Plants, and The Nepenthes Nursery all have this hybrid available from time to time. Borneo Exotics has 2 tissue culture clones that are available although they are still a bit expensive for the time being. The Nepenthes Nursery has a clone that is also a bit expensive in tissue culture that is available as well at times and is generally smaller than the BE clones. Exotic Plants offers cuttings from their clone and is truly for the collector as the price is extremely expensive. I was fortunate enough to get a seed grown N. x trusmadiensis from Exotic Plants Plus when Borneo Exotics made a few available to their vendors. These cropped up from a batch of seed grown N. lowii from Mt. Trusmadi from what I heard that Borneo Exotics had been growing. Now they offer only 2 different clones from tissue culture and I haven't seen any adults of these to see if there's much variation or what sex they are. Mine turned out to be male. This hybrid is a slow grower and grows very similar to N. lowii and N. macrophylla. It produces very thick tendrils and tough pitchers. Leaves are also large and very thick. Once established it's a fairly easy growing Nepenthes as long as highland conditions are provided. Exotica Plants has produced some very nice hybrids using their male N. X trusmadiensis as a parent. Once considered a very rare hybrid is now becoming available for most collectors because of tissue culture. Prices are still high, but should become more affordable in the near future. 

RATING
highlander 2650m (naturally occurring hybrid)

Cultivation: easy, slow grower in typical highland conditions
Market availability: size 2 to rooted cuttings; BE and Wistuba clones available; EP cuttings very scarce
Species / hybrid variability: not much so far; may change with more photos from adult plants from other growers
$ / size: expensive to collector's plant; $80.00 - $1000.00 + for adult cuttings
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: male