Pitcher Plant Garden
Kuching

sign showing various pitcher plant species

Borneo is home to some of the world's greatest diversity of pitcher plants (nepenthes) and the Pitcher Plant Garden Kuching is an excellent place to see around 55 species and subspecies of this fascinating plant.

Nepenthes Bicalcarata possibly?

Pitcher plants are famous for being carnivorous with an ability to feed themselves by trapping, drowning and consuming their prey - mostly insects but occasionally even frogs, birds and small mammals.

drawing of the main parts of a pitcher plant

A close look at the make up of a pitcher plant shows how they do it. At the risk of oversimplifying, prey is attracted to the plant by sugary nectar present under its colourful rim, known as the perisome. The insects lose their footing on the slippery perisome and fall into the enzyme fluid which fills the base of the plant. The prey drowns and is dissolved by the enzyme, releasing nutrients which feed the pitcher. The lid of the plant prevents excess rainfall from diluting the enzyme.

beautifully coloured pitcher plant
trumpet shaped pitcher plant

The plant above was labelled Nepenthes rafflesiana (presumably named after Stamford Raffles) and, when fully grown, is the largest species in Borneo and can hold up to a litre of fluid.

green coloured nepenthes

It is not only pitcher plants that are found here. The Garden used to be known as the Pitcher Plant and Wild Orchid Centre when it first opened to the public in 2004 but it underwent some changes and reopened to visitors in 2014 with a new name, Pitcher Plant Garden. There are still a few orchids here as well as plenty of other lush tropical foliage to make the pitchers feel at home.

pot plants and local style decor
lush foliage and mature trees
pink tropical flower
heliconia, ginger and other plants

The Garden is small, covering about two acres and is wedged between two busy roads, one of which is the Pan Borneo Highway. Parts of the Garden need maintenance and replanting but, if you ignore the traffic noise, it still maintains the atmosphere of a green oasis in the city and is well worth visiting for anyone interested in gardening and pitcher plants in particular. Also the Garden it plays an important role in conserving these plants which are threatened by constant loss of habitat.

Pitcher plants are a protected species in Sarawak and anybody caught stealing or damaging the plants will be subject to fines.

Opening Hours & Admission Charges

  • Tuesday to Friday 9am to 4pm
  • Saturday/Sunday/Public Holidays 10am to 4pm
  • Closed on Mondays

Ticket Prices

  • Malaysian RM3
  • Non-Malaysian RM6

How To Get to Pitcher Plant Garden Kuching

The location is marked on this map:

Address

Padawan, Sarawak 93250 (next to Kota Padawan Recreational Park).

Parking

There is a free car park in front of the entrance.

Nearby

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