Post by steelyphil on Jul 24, 2023 14:10:05 GMT -5
I may be wrong, but I feel like people are sleeping on this cultivar. Why? Look at this thing! This clone was created by John Hummer back in the late 90’s and registered in 2001. According to John, GRJ is a cross between S. Jonesii and S. Alabamensis. For some, this is an interspecific hybrid. For others, this might be an infra-varietal rubra cross. While I am now in the former camp, I’m not sure it matters that much since it’s a wonderful plant in my experience.
For me, the color and veining is what I notice first. In summer sun, yellow-green pitchers emerge and quickly infuse with a spider-web network of red veins. I personally like the messiness of the pattern as it contrasts nicely with the neatness of some of the ornate flava and alata varieties I’ve seen.
What makes this plant a showstopper though is the lid. Throughout its yearly growth cycle, the lid has a unique shape. The early season pitcher lids are blunt but a little plain when by compared to later season ones. They remind me of a like a more typical rubra specimen’s lids.
For me, the real show starts when the temperatures and humidity rise. Decumbent, snake-like spring pitchers yield to stately, erect tubes of 12 to 14 inches. Lids get blown out like a down-turned duck bill with a twirled tip. If they extend far enough, they’ll even flop down dramatically. Veins start out faint in the lid and tube and go wild as they color up. Fire red to purplish black depending on the time of year and lighting. By the peak of summer, this thing is beautifully full in its container.
If I had to guess why it’s not as popular, I think the wonky spring pitchers may turn some people off. As a clumpy cultivar it may be a bit more high maintenance than some slower growers. I have yet to divide my mother plant, but haven’t had any health issues or inconsistent performance over the 3 years I’ve had it in my collection. There is also the question of breeding. Does the endangered status of the parent plants or the messiness of the rubra complex make folks shy away from breeding with it? Are its best traits easy to pass on, or is it more of a crap shoot? I’ve made a few crosses this year, and hope to find out in the future.
If you find this plant available somewhere, give it a shot! Pics are all from my collection.
For me, the color and veining is what I notice first. In summer sun, yellow-green pitchers emerge and quickly infuse with a spider-web network of red veins. I personally like the messiness of the pattern as it contrasts nicely with the neatness of some of the ornate flava and alata varieties I’ve seen.
What makes this plant a showstopper though is the lid. Throughout its yearly growth cycle, the lid has a unique shape. The early season pitcher lids are blunt but a little plain when by compared to later season ones. They remind me of a like a more typical rubra specimen’s lids.
For me, the real show starts when the temperatures and humidity rise. Decumbent, snake-like spring pitchers yield to stately, erect tubes of 12 to 14 inches. Lids get blown out like a down-turned duck bill with a twirled tip. If they extend far enough, they’ll even flop down dramatically. Veins start out faint in the lid and tube and go wild as they color up. Fire red to purplish black depending on the time of year and lighting. By the peak of summer, this thing is beautifully full in its container.
If I had to guess why it’s not as popular, I think the wonky spring pitchers may turn some people off. As a clumpy cultivar it may be a bit more high maintenance than some slower growers. I have yet to divide my mother plant, but haven’t had any health issues or inconsistent performance over the 3 years I’ve had it in my collection. There is also the question of breeding. Does the endangered status of the parent plants or the messiness of the rubra complex make folks shy away from breeding with it? Are its best traits easy to pass on, or is it more of a crap shoot? I’ve made a few crosses this year, and hope to find out in the future.
If you find this plant available somewhere, give it a shot! Pics are all from my collection.
S. Golden-Red Jubilee by Steely Phil, on Flickr
S. Golden-Red Jubilee by Steely Phil, on Flickr
S. Golden-Red Jubilee by Steely Phil, on Flickr
S. Golden-Red Jubilee by Steely Phil, on Flickr
S. Golden-Red Jubilee by Steely Phil, on Flickr
S. Golden-Red Jubilee by Steely Phil, on Flickr
S. Golden-Red Jubilee by Steely Phil, on Flickr