- Botanical name: Cephalotus follicularis
- Common name: Australian pitcher plant
- Family: Cephalotaceae
- Plant Type: Conservatory, Houseplant, Perennial
Green
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
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’s 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 a moist but not boggy, humus-rich medium such as peat, mixed with perlite and sphagnum moss, on a sunny windowsill. For a peat-free alternative 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.
How to grow Cephalotus follicularis
-
Plant size
10cm height
10cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
- Soil type: Clay / heavy / moist
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
Cephalotus follicularis and wildlife
Cephalotus follicularis has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Cephalotus follicularis poisonous?
Cephalotus follicularis has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Cephalotus follicularis
