Sarracenia leucophylla var. alba 'the one' Baldwin Co, AL

A premier Baldwin Co, AL alba — extreme chameleon expression (looks like regular leucophylla most of the season, fall traps turn outrageously white as they age). Mike's top-5 alba breeding parent and unusually behaves as if alba traits are dominant through it. Survived a 2016-17 rhizome rot. 23 Mike photos spanning 2016 through 2022.

Origin

Wild-origin S. leucophylla var. alba from Baldwin Co, AL. Original collector and date are [MISSING]. Mike acquired pre-2016.

History

Pre-2016: Mike acquires.
Fall 2016: Spectacular white trap photos taken (reproduced in the 2017 thread launch).
Late 2016 / early 2017: Rhizome rot scare; Mike babies the plant back.
2017-05-11 (post 1): First forum doc, with the dramatic fall-vs-spring chameleon contrast.
2018-08: Late-summer update — 'one is starting to perform.
2019-10-10 (post 5): Top 5 alba breeding parent; alba traits appear dominant through this clone.
2020-06 / 12: Continued documentation.
2022-09-16 (post 9): Latest update — vein-fade-with-age trap trajectory.

Standout traits

Extreme chameleon expression — fall white potential not visible most of the season.
Aged traps go almost solid white, veins fade.
Top alba breeding parent — dominant-alba behavior exceptional.
Rot survivor.

Cultivation notes

Don't judge by spring/summer traps. Wait for fall and let the traps age before the white develops fully. Rot-prone — handle divisions carefully.

Photos

See gallery below — 23 Mike-photos spanning 2016 through 2022.

Standout traits

Extreme chameleon expression — looks like a regular leucophylla most of the season, then fall traps go outrageously white

Most fall traps not initially that white when they open; whiten dramatically as they age

Veins fade as traps age — Mike (2022-09-16): 'AS the traps age, the veins tend to go away and turn whiter'

From the back, an aged trap doesn't even look like an alba (Mike, 2022)

Top 5 alba breeding parent in Mike's collection — alba traits generally recessive but appear DOMINANT through this clone (Mike, 2019-10-10)

Survived a serious rhizome rot in 2016-17 — Mike babied it back from no-side-shoots state to producing baby side shoots

Difficult to color up; doesn't always reach its fullest potential year-over-year

Photos (23)

'the one' fall 2016 — the dramatically white phase, before rhizome rot scare— Mike Wang

'the one' SAME PLANT, 2017-05-05 — looks like a regular leucophylla in spring (the chameleon contrast)— Mike Wang

'the one' 2017-05-05 — same clone confirmed— Mike Wang

'the one' 2018-08-18 — late summer, not-so-white traps— Mike Wang

'the one' aged trap, 2018-08-25 — 'this is why I call it the one!!!!'— Mike Wang

'the one' aged trap, 2018-08-25— Mike Wang

'the one' 2019-10-10 — top 5 alba breeding parent— Mike Wang

'the one' early summer 2020-06-06 — 'nothing special'— Mike Wang

'the one' 2020-12-08 — past prime but still worth a glance— Mike Wang

'the one' 2022-09-16 — newly opened trap, will color up further— Mike Wang

'the one' 2022-09-16 — veins 'go away' and trap turns whiter as it ages— Mike Wang

'the one' 2022-09-16 — from the back, doesn't even look like an alba at this point— Mike Wang

Naming

Mike's 'the one' designation — second to none for whiteness when fully colored up. Mike (post 1, 2017-05-11): "It's named 'the one' because that's exactly what it is, second to none. Trouble is, if a better chameleon clone shows up in the future, perhaps the name can be amended to 'no longer the one?' LOL"