One of a kind
Teeth, fake windows and no close relatives
Found only in a narrow strip of coast in the far southwest of Australia, Cephalotus is the only species in its entire plant family. It looks remarkably like a miniature Nepenthes, yet the two aren't related. Evolution built the same trap twice, on opposite sides of the world. Each pitcher is a little arsenal, with a ring of inward-curving teeth, nectar, slippery walls and a lid with see-through windows. Insects fly at the light, bump the lid and drop in. In spring it also grows ordinary flat leaves that catch nothing at all.
Read the Cephalotus care guide →
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Growing Australian pitcher plants (Cephalotus)
Read the full care guide →Light
A wide range works, from a bright windowsill to full sun or a grow light on a 12 to 15 hour cycle. More light deepens the pitchers to rich red and near-black.
Water
Rainwater, distilled or RO water. Stand the pot in a shallow tray, no more than 1/4 of the way up the pot, and let it run dry before refilling. Kept too wet, especially in cool weather, it can rot.
Dormancy
No true dormancy. A mild, cool rest over winter with less water and light tends to keep plants healthier long term, though plenty of growers skip it with no issues.
