Carnivorous Plant Clone Wiki
Awaiting Mike's review. This entry was AI-extracted from forum posts. Treat specifics as a working draft until reviewed.

sarracenia flava var. flava

Sarracenia flava var. flava GIANT Don Schnell

Collector
Don Schnell (original wild collection)
First described
2023
Type
single clone
Cultivar
'GIANT Don Schnell'

Origin

A S. flava var. flava with a chain of custody running through three of the historically important figures in the plant's cultivation: Don Schnell (original wild collection 40-50 years before 2023) → Art Junier (Soquel, CA, held it in the late 1990s — Mike saw a 10- to 12-trap clump exceeding 3' per trap) → Mike Wang (acquired a division ~1998).

Locality data lost; given the oreophila-like growth habit and slow performance, Mike speculates the original wild site is destroyed and the genetics are unusual.

Standout traits

  • True genetic giant when fully established — but takes decades.
  • Oreophila-like growth pattern: 1-2 huge spring traps per growth point, then phyllodia all summer.
  • Slow grower, weak outdoor performer in NorCal — possibly greenhouse- preferring.
  • Mike: "almost lost it several times" — preserved by repeated side- shoot rescue.

History

Mike grew this for 25 years before the clone began to size up appreciably (the 2023-05 trap photographed is the best Mike has seen on his property). Forum member almightydolla provides comparative data from a different climate where the clone gets noticeably larger. Mike now plans to breed with it.

Standout traits

  • Genuine genetic giant — once established (multi-decade), can produce 10-12 traps each exceeding 3 feet (Art Junier's late-1990s greenhouse plant).
  • Slow-growing; not a strong outdoor performer in Mike's NorCal climate.
  • Unusual oreophila-like growth habit: 1-2 GIANT spring traps per growth point, then phyllodia for the rest of summer.
  • Doesn't produce many spring traps overall — single-trap-per-growth-point is the norm.
  • Likely greenhouse-friendly; outdoor performance uncertain.

Cultivation

Mike grew this for 25 years before it began to size up. Almost lost several times; rebuilt from tiny side shoots. Now (2023) deemed worth breeding with — Mike began crossing with it. forum member almightydolla reports much larger trap performance in his climate (2024-03 update).

Photos (4)

GIANT Don Schnell — borderline-giant trap held by Mike, mid-May 2023.— Mike Wang
GIANT Don Schnell, mid-May 2023.— Mike Wang
Typical-flava look — Brunswick Co photobombers in background, mid-May 2023.— Mike Wang
Late-summer 2023 photo from almightydolla's climate — much bigger than Mike's outdoor performance.— almightydolla (forum member)

Naming

Honors Don Schnell, original collector. 'GIANT' denotes the trap-size phenotype when fully established.