Sarracenia × moorei 'Wilkerson's White Knight' N. Walton Co, FL

A famous primary natural hybrid (S. flava × S. leucophylla) from Bud Wilkerson's property in N. Walton Co, FL — celebrated for its gigantic white pitchers with reddish throat. Originally obtained, named, and distributed by Brooks Garcia. Notoriously rare and slow-dividing; widely considered a flagship cultivar of S. × moorei. Documented in Mike's collection from 2015 to 2022 (30 Mike photos).

Origin

Wild-origin primary natural hybrid (S. × moorei = S. flava × S. leucophylla) from Bud Wilkerson's property in North Walton County, FL. Originally obtained, named, and distributed by Brooks Garcia.

Mike acquired his small division from Wes Bucker (Sunbelle Exotics), "probably in the early 2000s" per his 2022 retrospective. Year of the original wild collection by Brooks Garcia is [MISSING].

The plant was confirmed still growing on Bud Wilkerson's property in 2016 by naturenuts during a property visit.

History

Wild discovery / collection by Brooks Garcia: year [MISSING].
Pre-2015: Mike acquires a small division from Wes Bucker.
2015-04-17 (post 1): First Mike forum documentation. Plant has finally produced photographable traps after a year of slow growth.
2016-09-15 (post 5): Mike compares his result against Cedric's greenhouse-grown gigantic French specimens; acknowledges his is "Mike Wang's pathetic attempt to emulate." Notes very slow division — only 3 divisions total to date.
2016-09-16 (post 6): naturenuts visits Bud Wilkerson's property and confirms the source plant is alive.
2019-10-21: Outdoor NorCal still doesn't produce the full red throat — Mike attributes this to the clone preferring warmer conditions and his small rhizome size.
2020-2022: Continued slow growth and color development.
2022-11-15 (post 18): Mike's retrospective on acquisition, growing experience, and the yellowish tinge that shows up in some hybrid offspring.

Standout traits

Gigantic white pitchers under optimal greenhouse conditions (Cedric in France).
Reddish throat patch when fully colored.
Slow to divide — propagation challenge.
Yellowish tinge as a recognizable seasonal expression.
Hybrid-breeding parent producing stunning offspring with the right combinations.
Pleasant fragrance — flower-like.

Cultivation notes

Warmer conditions / greenhouse culture preferred for full color expression. Outdoor NorCal microclimate underperforms. Slow to divide; plan for long establishment.

Photos

See gallery below — 30 Mike-photos spanning 2015 through 2022.

Standout traits

Famous for producing GIGANTIC white pitchers with a reddish throat patch under optimal conditions — Cedric (a French grower) showed the world the clone's potential by producing greenhouse-grown monsters

'Fattie' profile — wide pitchers, robust shape (Mike, post 1, 2015-04-17)

Slow to divide — Mike (2016-09-15): 'It's very slow to divide, I literally have been able to get three divisions total out of it so far'

Performs best in warmer / greenhouse conditions; Mike's outdoor Northern California microclimate (summers rarely above 83°F) struggles to produce the full red throat

Commands very high prices in the market — 'incredibly rare and has fetched some enormous sums of money both here in the states and in Europe due to the extreme demand and low availability' (Mike, 2015)

Distinctive yellowish tinge in some seasons (Mike, 2021-10), a trait that shows up in WWK hybrid offspring

Produces stunning offspring with the right cross combinations (Mike, 2021-10) — but 'pretty tough to breed with given its very mixed heritage'

Source plant still alive on Bud Wilkerson's property as of 2016 — confirmed by naturenuts on a property visit

Pleasant fragrance — 'smell like flowers' (leo, post 11, 2017-09-08)

Cultivation

Warmer-than-NorCal conditions are likely needed for full expression. Cedric's greenhouse-grown French specimens are the reference. Mike's outdoor NorCal microclimate (summers rarely > 83°F) does not produce the full red throat patch.
Slow to divide. Don't expect to bulk a stock pile quickly.
Fall is the prime trap-flush season. Mike (2022-05-22): "this clone doesn't seem to perform for us in general until the fall, but for whatever reason, it's putting on a great show right now!" — spring traps can occasionally be very nice.
Hybrid breeding partner: WWK is challenging to use due to its mixed heritage, but right combinations + sufficient seedlings yield winners.

Photos (30)

WWK, 2015-04-17 — first forum doc; traps too young to show red throat— Mike Wang

WWK, 2015-04-17 — 'fattie' profile— Mike Wang

WWK among other clones, 2015-04-17— Mike Wang

WWK day-old open trap — leuco alba Washington Co, AL photobomb, 2016-09— Mike Wang

WWK, 2021-10-13 — distinctive yellowish tinge— Mike Wang

WWK, 2022-11-09 — yellow tinge more pronounced— Mike Wang

Naming

Named by Brooks Garcia, who originally obtained and distributed the clone from Bud Wilkerson's property. 'White Knight' for the large white pitchers; 'Wilkerson's' for the source bog. Often abbreviated 'WWK' on the forum. Mike (post 18, 2022-11-15) documents: "I originally got my division from Wes Bucker, probably in the early 2000's? He sent me a healthy but very small division." Note: 'White Knight' was first introduced taxonomically as *S. × moorei*; in cultivation it's often filed under hybrids.