Sarracenia leucophylla 'GIANT' Washington Co, AL

A genuinely-giant S. leucophylla — fat-trapped rather than just tall — that Mike Wang considers one of only a handful of verified giants in cultivation alongside Drummond's Giant. Documented in two threads from 2017 to 2020.

Origin

Wild-lineage S. leucophylla from Washington County, AL. The original collector and date of wild collection are [MISSING]. Mike acquired the clone before 2014; precise acquisition date is [MISSING].

Mike suspects this clone is a hybrid-vigor giant rather than a genetic giant — likely carrying S. rubra wherryi introgression in its ancestry. This hypothesis would also explain the unusual rot susceptibility (a wherryi-style preference for less-saturated soils). [VERIFY]

History

• Pre-2014: Acquired by Mike. Grew into "an enormous rhizome with incredibly large traps" before catastrophic rot wiped out the main plant.
• ~2014: Recovery began from saved tiny side shoots.
• 2017-08-21: First documented on the forum (thread 3895), now ~3 years into recovery, traps not yet at full size.
• 2018-08-07: Second thread (4236) introducing it more fully alongside Mike's broader analysis of giant leucophylla genetics. Compares this clone with Drummond's Giant (genetic giant, slow) and Bocaza (another suspected hybrid-vigor giant).
• 2018-09-16: Comparison photos showing the biggest fall trap next to the prior August trap — "unquestionably gigantic."
• 2018-11-01: Trap colored up further with age. Plant root-bound in a 5.5" pot whose sides had cracked from the year's growth — Mike planned to repot for next year's larger traps.
• 2020-08-23: Divided over winter, traps smaller but still big.
• 2022-02 (forum reply only): Forum member 'ace' adds context about Botanique's 'Cronus' as another notable hybrid-vigor giant leucophylla.

Standout traits

• Wide, fat traps with abnormal girth — Mike's defining feature for "giant" status (not merely tall like Drummond's can be).
• Even small rhizomes produce these fat traps, a hybrid-vigor signature.
• As of 2018, the only clone in Mike's massive leucophylla collection producing giant late-summer traps.

Cultivation notes

Susceptible to rot — most important growing note for this clone. After losing a prior large rhizome to rot, Mike's solution is zero standing water, with peat kept moist at all times. The plant loves the drier conditions. The rot susceptibility may stem from suspected S. rubra wherryi genetics in its lineage (wherryi is a drier-soil species).

Vigorous root growth — late 2018 the plant was so root-bound in a 5.5" pot that the pot's sides cracked. Mike's plan was a much larger pot to enable maximum trap size.

Discussion of giant S. leucophylla (Mike's framework)

Mike's working theory, posted in this thread, is that giant leucophyllas come in two broad genetic types:

1. Genetic giants from inbred lines — slow growers, need perfect conditions for many years to consistently perform. Drummond's Giant is the canonical example. Doesn't produce fat traps on small rhizomes.
2. Hybrid-vigor giants — fast vigorous growth, fat traps even on modest rhizomes. This Washington Co AL clone, Bocaza, and Botanique's Cronus are Mike's examples.

True giants are very rare both in nature and cultivation. Mike has personally seen only two giants in the wild: one in Okaloosa Co, FL, and one in Baldwin Co, AL. He suspects both wild giants are genetic giants because they were never seen again on follow-up visits.