Carnivorous Plant Clone Wiki
Awaiting Mike's review. This entry was AI-extracted from forum posts. Treat specifics as a working draft until reviewed.

sarracenia rosea

Sarracenia rosea 'Red Throat Giant' Liberty Co, FL

Liberty Co, FL

First described
2014

A genuine giant S. rosea — Mike's largest seedling from a Liberty Co, FL population, with a striking rugelii-esque red throat. Rivaled only by S. rosea 'Big Mama' for size in Mike's experience. Documented from 2014 to 2024 (33 Mike photos).

Origin

Wild-origin S. rosea from Liberty County, FL. Mike grew out a batch of "hundreds of seedlings" from this population; this clone was the largest single individual selected. Mike notes that other plants from the same population are also large, suggesting the giantism may be partially population-genetic rather than just an individual mutation. Original collector / collection year [MISSING].

History

  • Pre-2014: Mike grows out the seedling batch and selects this individual. Year [MISSING].
  • 2014-11-28 (post 1): First forum documentation. Already gigantic with red throat clearly visible.
  • 2015-06-17 (post 4): Side-by-side scale comparison with a mature blooming-size Mobile Co, AL rosea. Comparison to S. rosea 'Big Mama' as the only size rival in Mike's experience.
  • 2018-10-09 (post 10): Plant had been "sorta neglected" but is back to vigorous growth in a 4" pot.
  • 2018-10-29 (post 12): Plant nearly lost a few years prior; recovered and "really turned from wimpy, crappy almost dead plants to big, giant vigorous beauties."
  • 2018-12 (post 13): Late-season fattening documented.
  • 2019-04-15 (post 14): In bloom.
  • 2019-10-22, 2019-10-30 (posts 15, 16): Continued size and coloration documentation.
  • 2020-12-09 (post 18): Older traps still coloring up in winter.
  • 2022-05-13 (post 19): Recovery from 2021 division setback — Mike's lesson: don't divide established mother plants if you want maximum size.
  • 2023-09-25 (post 20, posted 2024-02-14): Division finally fully established ~9 months later. Mike's growth-momentum maxim articulated.

Standout traits

  • Genuine giant rosea — biggest of hundreds of seedlings.
  • Rugelii-esque red throat — striking color contrast.
  • Late-season fattening — pitchers fatten well into fall and early winter.
  • Bullet-proof once established — but challenging through establishment.
  • Other rosea giants in the same population — suggests population-level genetic predisposition.

Cultivation notes

This clone exemplifies Mike's "growth momentum > rhizome size" philosophy. Establishment is the bottleneck; once established, growth is rapid. Don't divide established mother plants. Pot up generously. Patience for fall color development.

Photos

See gallery below — 33 Mike-photos spanning 2014 through 2023/24.

Standout traits

  • Genuine giant rosea — Mike's biggest seedling out of hundreds; rivaled only by S. rosea 'Big Mama' for size in Mike's experience
  • Red throat — rugelii-esque red coloration inside the trap mouth (forum reviewer Calen, post 3, 2014-12-06); contrasts dramatically with the green/red exterior
  • Very fast growth, vigorous, produces gigantic traps
  • Late-season fattening — pitchers continue to fatten and color up well into late fall (December photos showing 'fattest very late in the grow season')
  • Bullet-proof once fully established — but challenging during the establishment phase (especially after division)
  • Older traps continue to color up over winter rather than just degrading
  • Possibly has flava genes (nclarkii speculation, post 17, 2019-11-22) — not confirmed
  • Other plants from the same Liberty Co, FL population are also large (Mike, post 1, 2014-11-29: 'Many other individuals from this population are also quite large, and I suspect maybe a few other giants may show up in due time')

Cultivation

  • Slow to establish; fast once established. Mike's repeated observation. Divisions can take 9 months to 2-3 years to fully establish. After establishment, growth becomes rapid.
  • Growth momentum matters more than rhizome size. Mike's deeply-held cultivation maxim, illustrated by this clone: "Relatively smaller divisions that had outstanding growth momentum and are fully established can produce much larger traps quicker than a weak, large division."
  • Don't divide established mother plants if you want maximum size. Mike (post 19, 2022-05-18): "I divided the mother plant in 2021 and it really set everything back!"
  • Pot-up generously. Mike (2018-10-16): plant in a 4" pot "can definitely get bigger" with more room.
  • Patience for fall color. Older traps continue to color rather than degrading.

Photos (33)

Red Throat Giant, 2014-11-28 — first forum documentation— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2014-11-28 — earlier in season the trap was greener and the red throat contrast was even more striking— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant — close-up, 2014-11-28— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant clump (corner) dwarfing neighboring rosea clones, 2014-11-28— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant (left) vs mature blooming-size S. rosea from Mobile Co, AL (right), 2015-06-17— Mike Wang
Mike holding an older, smaller pitcher for scale, 2015-06-17— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant — hand for scale, 2015-06-17— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2015-06-17— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant in a 4" pot, 2018-10-09 — Mike: 'can definitely get bigger' with more space— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2018-10-09— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2018-10-29 — recovered from a near-loss; back to vigorous— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2018-10-29— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant — 'What a fattie!', 2018-10-29— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant — early December 2018, late-season fattening— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, early December 2018— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, early December 2018— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, early December 2018— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant in bloom, 2019-04-15— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant in bloom, 2019-04-15— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant in bloom, 2019-04-15— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2019-10-22— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant — 'pretty massive', 2019-10-22— Mike Wang
New pitchers emerging late October 2019— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, late October 2019— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant — flash photography reveals throat coloration, 2019-10-30— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2019-10-30— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2019-10-30— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2020-12-09 — older traps still coloring up in winter— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2020-12-09 — younger traps with more contrast— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2022-05-13 — recovering from 2021 division setback— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2022-05-13— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2023-09-25 — division established ~9 months later, full color— Mike Wang
Red Throat Giant, 2023-09-25— Mike Wang

Naming

Mike's descriptive label combining the two defining traits: unusual giant size + a red throat (rugelii-esque red coloration inside the trap mouth). Informal Mike-Wang label, not a registered cultivar.