- First described
- 2022
- Into cultivation
- 2014
- Type
- population
A red, genetically-giant psittacina population that floats in standing water in situ (Marion Co, GA, discovered 2014). Sympatric with ancestral rubra. Late spring + fall pitchers. Mike continues to find the floating-water-cultivation difficult in NorCal. 21 Mike photos (2022-2025).
Standout traits
- Floats in shallow water in situ — uses old pitchers as buoyancy
- Conservation-significant — discovered 2014, very limited entry into cultivation
- Genetic giants — larger than typical psittacina
- Beautiful red coloration
- Late spring + best fall pitcher production
- Sympatric / hybridizes with ancestral rubra at the in-situ site (acalvin reference)
- Mike (2024+): divisions look better than mother plants
- Mike notes psittacinas in general hate his cool NorCal climate
- kiwiearl reference: gulfensis-floating-pond plants didn't replicate floating + giant trait in cultivation
Cultivation
- Mike rotates between substrate types — but per his hands, psittacinas can't be grown waterlogged long-term in his climate (rot risk).
- Don't trim plants too early — can cause rot.
- Old traps left on are cosmetic only — plants tolerate it.
- alexis suggestion: pure sphagnum + high water table.
Photos (21)
Naming
'floating giant' = grows in standing water, uses old pitchers for buoyancy. Genetic giants — much larger than typical psittacinas.