- Breeder
- Travis H. Wyman (cross); Rob Co (grow-out + selection)
- First described
- 2014
- Type
- single clone named cultivar registered
- Cultivar
- 'Defiance'
A select clone from a Travis-Wyman-bred / Rob-Co-grown three-way hybrid seed batch ('Reptilian Rose' × (rubricorpora × leucophylla)). Mike's accession was originally labeled clone #11 — the eleventh of 11+ seedlings — and was officially registered as S. 'Defiance' by 2022. Sibling of S. 'Crown of Thorns' from the same cross.
History
Mike introduced the plant in 2014 (post #1) describing it as one of those clones "that I think is nameable" — a Reptilian Rose that has "even better shape and more dynamic colors." Cross was made by Dr. Travis H. Wyman and grown out by Rob Co of the Pitcher Plant Project, with several worth-naming siblings appearing in the seed batch.
By 2018 (post #7) Mike upgraded the assessment to "jaw dropping," and by 2022 (post #9) the plant was officially registered as S. 'Defiance'. Forum member magknite (post #8, 2021) was first to mention the 'Defiance' name in this thread, ~1 year before Mike confirmed the registration.
Standout traits
- Reptilian Rose mouth character with improved shape/color over parent
- "Check out them lipz!" — Mike's 2018 trap (post #7) shows the heavy lip distinction that drove the cultivar selection
- Vigorous grower
- Phenotypically labile across growing conditions
Cultivation notes
- Phenotype is dramatically condition-dependent. Rob Co's greenhouse plant produced octagonal/round mouths; Mike's outdoor NorCal plant produces oval mouths. Mechanism not confirmed (humidity hypothesis proposed but not validated).
- Took ~4 years for the plant to reach full potential under Mike's outdoor conditions.
- Deep-purple throat color most reliable in fall flush, less so spring/ summer (magknite 2021 observation).
Standout traits
- Reptilian Rose mouth shape ('Reptilian Rose mouth thang going on' — Mike, post #9, 2022) but with 'better shape and more dynamic colors' than the parent (Mike, post #1, 2014)
- Deep purple throats achievable but more reliably under greenhouse conditions; harder outdoors with spring/summer growth (magknite, post #8, 2021)
- Phenotype shifts dramatically with growing conditions — Mike (post #3, 2014): 'When grown in Rob's greenhouse, the mouth is shaped like an octagon and is round, unlike mine which is oval-shaped'
- Vigorous grower (magknite, post #8, 2021)
- Gone from 'pretty interesting' (2014) to 'jaw dropping' (2018) as plant matured (Mike, post #7, 2018-07-03)
Cultivation
Outdoor Northern California, full sun. Phenotype is environment-sensitive — Rob Co's greenhouse plant of clone #11 produced an octagonal/round mouth, while Mike's outdoor plant produces an oval mouth (Mike, post #3, 2014). audacityofthemind914 (post #4, 2017) suggested humidity may drive the mouth-shape difference; Mike (post #5) declined to confirm without further observation.
Took roughly 4 years (2014 → 2018) for the plant to reach its "jaw dropping" potential under Mike's outdoor conditions.
Color depth on spring/summer flush less reliable than fall — magknite (post #8, 2021) reported deep-purple throats only consistently appeared in fall flush.
Distribution: xplosion91 asked about availability in 2022 (post #10); no Mike confirmation of public sales in this thread.
Photos (16)
Naming
Originally Mike's accession-label "clone #11" — distinguishing it from the other 11+ siblings of the same Wyman-Co cross. Officially named and registered as S. 'Defiance' by 2022 (Mike, post #9, 2022-07-19). magknite (post #8, 2021-08-14) was the first to mention the 'Defiance' name on the forum, predating Mike's confirmation by ~1 year.