Cephalotus follicularis

Australian pitcher plant, Cephalotus follicularis, is a fantastic looking, small pitcher plant, perfect for cultivating on a windowsill. It bears rosettes of two types of leaves: one flat and long, the other shaped into a thumb-sized, toothed, insect-trapping pitcher.

The only plant in its genus, it is favoured by collectors. It can be tricky to grow, however, requiring slightly drier soils than pitchers in the Sarracenia genus. For best results grow in moist but not boggy, nutrient-poor, acidic conditions, such as in a specialist carnivorous peat-free compost, on a sunny windowsill. To mix your own peat-free compost try using a mixture of leafmould, perlite and coir.

Cephalotus follicularis can also be grown in a terrarium or even in a greenhouse, to control insect pests. Hot daytime temperatures and cool night-time temperatures are key to its survival.