- Collector
- Barry Rice (seed source / distributor)
- First described
- 2011
- Type
- population multiple clones extirpated site conservation
- Cultivar
- 'Hurricane Creek White'
Origin and conservation significance
Hurricane Creek, Baldwin Co, AL was once a huge wild S. leucophylla field. Within the population were a few select white-trap individuals — what the cultivation community now calls "HCW." A paper company bulldozed the entire parcel and planted pines for wood pulp production. The original S. leucophylla HCW plants exist now almost entirely in cultivation.
Barry Rice collected seeds and distributed plants before the site was destroyed. The seeds → ICPS distribution → Mike Wang's collection → today's HCW lineage in cultivation chain runs through Barry Rice's foresight.
2013 follow-up (thread 921): a few straggler plants were still hanging on at the original site, overgrown by shrubs.
Naming caveat
HCW is a site/population name, not a registered cultivar. ICPS distributes "Hurricane Creek locality" seeds, but not every seedling expresses the famous HCW white-trap phenotype. Buyers should treat "HCW" purchases as locality-traceable, not phenotype- guaranteed.
Mike's clones
Mike maintains about a dozen distinct HCW clones. Documented in this thread:
- Clone D — vigorous, decently large pitchers, shapely, bright white.
- Clone E — larger summer pitchers.
- Clone F — Mike's standout: "one of the best clones in my collection."
Critical phenotype note
HCW plants are white but NOT anthocyanin-free. Tiny dots of color appear on the traps without affecting the overall white impression. Don't confuse HCW with true alba leucophyllas.
Standout traits
- Conservation accession — wild population destroyed; cultivation is the surviving lineage.
- About a dozen distinct clones in Mike's collection (Clones D, E, F documented in this thread).
- Whiter than regular *S. leucophyllas* — but technically NOT anthocyanin-free. Tiny dots of color visible on the traps without affecting overall white impression.
- Mike's HCW Clone F: 'one of the best clones in my collection.'
- Mike's HCW Clone E: produces larger summer pitchers.
- Mike's HCW Clone D: vigorous, decently large pitchers, shapely traps, bright white.
Cultivation
Standard NorCal outdoor leucophylla care. Mike's note (2011): the HCW group includes about a dozen distinct clones; expression varies between clones, with some better than others. Clone F was Mike's standout in 2011.
Photos (6)
Naming
"Hurricane Creek White" — geographic site name + descriptive "white" for the white-trap phenotype. Mike's group represents about a dozen distinct clones from the original population. Forum disagreement: HCW is sometimes referred to as a cultivar, but sflguy notes (post #5) "HCW isn't a cultivar" — it's a population/site name. ICPS-distributed seeds carry "Hurricane Creek locality" labels but offspring don't all express the famous HCW phenotype (hcarlton, post #4).