- Breeder
- Mike Wang (selection from Lois × best clone seed batch)
- First described
- 2015
- Type
- single clone named from breeding line
- Cultivar
- 'copper body'
A standout Mike-bred selection from the Lois clone × best clone cuprea cross. Entire-body coppery coloration distinguishes it from typical cupreas (which usually only have copper lid color). Mike's 2016 self-assessment: "might actually be one of the best cupreas in the collection."
History
Mike grew out a large seed batch from his 'Lois clone' × 'best clone' cross. Most of the hundreds of seedlings were gold-colored. Two standouts emerged: this 'copper body' selection (Mike, post #1, 2015), and a sibling that turns solid red under optimal conditions.
The 'copper body' name follows from Mike's observation that even after leaf-removal, the clone colors up across the entire body — not just the lid. The 2016-04-24 update (post #5) shows the trait at maturity with green interior contrasting against coppery exterior.
By 2020-2022, divisions had spread to rmeyer, almightydolla; by 2025 river also reported continued cultivation.
Standout traits
- Whole-body coppery coloration (atypical for cuprea)
- Dark, well-defined lid color
- Resilient — full color expression after leaf removal
- Most siblings of the cross also strong selections
Cultivation notes
- Outdoor NorCal.
- Seasonal color shift: full coppery in spring/summer; less coppery in fall (almightydolla 2022).
- Standard cuprea cultivation; no special requirements.
Standout traits
- Entire body coppery — distinguishes this clone from typical var. cuprea where only the lid is copper-colored
- Dark, well-defined lid color
- Mike (post #5, 2016): 'might actually be one of the best cupreas in the collection' — surpasses Mike's original 'best clone' parent
- Most seedlings from the Lois × best clone batch were 'gold' (Mike, post #1, 2015) — high yield of attractive offspring
- Sibling 'turned solid red under optimal conditions' (Mike, post #1, 2015) — distinct from this 'copper body' selection
- Mike (post #11, 2016 reply by hcarlton + Mike's general agreement): the line between cuprea and atropurpurea has been horribly blurred — this clone arguably sits on that border
Cultivation
- Outdoor Northern California.
- Resilience demonstration: Mike (post #1, 2015): even after having all leaves chopped off to the ground, this clone produced its first spring trap with intense coloration. Suggests strong vegetative-bank resilience.
- 2-3 sibling clones from the same Lois × best clone seed batch are documented (post #13, 2016) growing alongside the 'copper body' selection.
- rmeyer (post #16, 2020) and almightydolla (posts #18-19, 2020-2022) confirm distribution to other growers — 2022 update from almightydolla shows the clone is NOT coppery in fall (changes color seasonally), which contradicts the original "color regardless of leaf damage" framing.
- Distribution: Mike, almightydolla, rmeyer, river (2025) all have plants. river's 2025 photos confirm continued vigor.
Photos (12)
Naming
'copper body' = descriptor for the entire-pitcher coppery coloration Mike observed in this select clone (post #1, 2015-04-01) — even after having all leaves chopped to the ground, this clone colored up intensely. The 'Lois × best clone' cross naming follows Mike's parent-pair convention. calen (post #3, 2015) jokingly proposed 'Best-er Clone' as an alternate; almightydolla (post #7, 2016) proposed 'bestest clone.'