Sign in Start free
Species library › Nepenthes › Nepenthes maxima
Carnivorous Well documented

Nepenthes maxima

great pitcher-plant

A widespread and very variable pitcher plant from New Guinea, Sulawesi and the Moluccas, known for its tall, often speckled upper pitchers with wavy lids. In cultivation it is a vigorous, easy intermediate-to-highland plant that wants bright light and a steady night drop.

At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
No rest periodClimber

Where it grows wild

Grows in a wide range of montane habitats, from forest edges and mossy forest to open scrub, grassland and disturbed ground, where it scrambles through low vegetation. It adapts to both perhumid and seasonally drier parts of New Guinea. Plants in drier areas form elongated pitchers with narrow peristomes and strong waxy zones, while those in wetter areas have wide peristomes and reduced waxy zones. Records exist from lowland sites as well as high mountains.

Recorded at about 400 m to over 2600 m. The 25 GBIF records with an elevation span 800–2620 m, median 1800 m, so most wild plants are highland.

New GuineaSulawesiMaluku

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

Grow Nepenthes maxima? Add it to a free garden and its full profile opens. Pro opens all 38,374 profiles in the library, plants and fungi.

Start free Sign in

More Nepenthes

Nepenthes ventricosa Nepenthes ampullaria Nepenthes khasiana Nepenthes veitchii Nepenthes alata Nepenthes northiana Nepenthes spathulata Nepenthes gracillima Nepenthes mirabilis Nepenthes bicalcarata Nepenthes edwardsiana Nepenthes fusca All 210 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.