Collection: Heliamphora - Sun Pitcher Plants

Heliamphora, often called sun pitchers, are some of the most fascinating carnivorous plants I’ve come across. Native to the highlands of South America, particularly the tepui mountains of Venezuela, these plants thrive in conditions that would kill most others—cool, humid, nutrient-poor environments. What sets them apart is their elegant, tubular pitchers, which form natural traps for unsuspecting insects. Unlike their North American cousins like Sarracenia, Heliamphora rely more on rainwater and surface tension than digestive enzymes to break down their prey, which is just wild to think about.

Growing them isn’t exactly easy, but that’s part of the appeal. They demand a stable environment with high humidity, good airflow, and cool temperatures—basically a cloud forest in miniature. But when they’re happy, they’re stunning: vibrant green and red pitchers, often tipped with a nectar spoon that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. There’s something deeply satisfying about cultivating a plant that comes from such an isolated, extreme ecosystem. It’s like keeping a piece of another world alive in your home or greenhouse.