N. fusca (lower pitcher)
purchase date: 7 / 99
arrived as a rooted cutting
plant origin: unsure, California Carnivores


N. fusca "flared peristome"
purchase date: 2 / 09
arrived as a size 3
plant origin: Borneo Exotics
photo taken: 8 / 09

Nepenthes fusca has long very cylindrical pitchers with a slightly flared peristome. They seem to be very similar to N. maxima except more elongated. As with N. maxima, there are many variations available. The lower pitchers have the most color while the upper pitchers tend to have greener tubes and a little striping in the peristome. For me, N. fusca can be more of an intermediate grower than a highlander depending on which clone I have. My California Carnivores clone does well through my winters and can tolerate lower temperatures. However, I've had some other N. fuscas that didn't do well through winter and died. This species is a climber and really takes off once into the climbing stage. It's easy to look after and a species I think sometimes gets overlooked compared with other Nepenthes species. 

RATING
intermediate / highlander 1200m-1500m

Cultivation: easy; moderate to quick grower especially in the vining stage
Market availability: size 3, rooted cuttings, possible larger plants; widely available
Species variability: many; flaired peristome, typical x dark, Kinabalu, "white", Crocker Range, Sarawak, and other locality names
$ / size: inexpensive to collector's plant: $12.00 - $100.00 + depending on variation and plant size  for rarer clones
Cuttings: available for trade at times
Sex: Calif. Carnivores female