- First described
- 2013
- Type
- single clone or near clonal population
Origin
Caroline Co, VA — likely Reedy Creek area. Mike's pre-2014 accession came from a single individual (effectively clonal); the resulting plant in cultivation produces unusually large traps for ssp. purpurea, particularly under California outdoor conditions. A 2024 re-collection from the same site is in progress to add genetic diversity.
History
- 2013-05-12 — Mike's introduction; population overview
- 2013-07-06 — direct size comparison vs Marl bog Bruce Co, ON ssp. purpurea — Caroline VA substantially larger
- 2020 — recovery from earlier setback; rmeyer reports successful cultivation in his climate
- 2020-09 — Mike plans 2021 limited distribution
- 2023-07-02 — only one division left in Mike's collection
- 2024 — Mike re-collects from the same wild site for diversity
- 2025-07-24 — most recent update; sphagnum-overgrown but healthy
Standout traits
- Mike's biggest ssp. purpurea
- Clonal pre-2024 accession
- Vigorous in CA outdoor culture (atypical)
- Hypothesized hybrid vigor from ssp. purpurea × venosa intermediate status (kiwiearl)
Cultivation notes
Outdoor Northern California. Recovers slowly from setbacks but sizes up reliably under good conditions.
Standout traits
- By far Mike's biggest purp. purp. (post #1, 2013)
- Direct size comparison vs Marl-bog ssp. purpurea Bruce Co ON shows the Caroline VA clone substantially larger (Mike, post #3, 2013-07)
- Thrives in Mike's Northern California climate — atypical for ssp. purpurea (most Mike's purps don't get gigantic outdoors in CA)
- Many traps loaded with dead bugs / ant colonies — vigorous trap function
- Pre-2014 acquisition was effectively clonal — all plants came from a single individual (Mike, post #16, 2025)
Cultivation
Outdoor Northern California. Mike (post #11, 2020): mother plants "really got jacked a while back, but are doing well now." Slow recovery from setback; full giant-size expression took several seasons after recovery.
rmeyer's ER climate: described as "fairly rapid grower with great shape and vigor" (post #13, 2020).
Photos (15)
Naming
"Giant" — Mike's descriptor for the unusually large trap size. Mike (post #1, 2013): "by far the biggest purp. purp. I've ever grown." kiwiearl (post #2) hypothesizes hybrid-vigor effect from ssp. purpurea × ssp. venosa intermediate origin (Virginia populations are commonly intermediate).