Conservatory Of Flowers Conservatory Of Flowers
  • Home
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Audio Tour
  • Exhibits
    • Map
    • Galleries & What’s in Bloom
    • Virtual Tour
  • Learn
    • Self-Guided Student Visits
    • 3-5th Grade Guided Visits
    • Educational Resources
  • Your Event
    • Event Rentals
    • Weddings
    • Corporate
    • FAQs
    • Photo Permits
    • Submit Your Event Inquiry
    • Property Map
  • News
    • In the News
    • Conservatory Magazine
    • Conservatory Blog
    • Email Sign Up
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Become a Member
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • Letter from the Conservatory
    • Mission & Vision
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Our History
    • Staff
    • Advisory Council
    • Work with Us
    • Contact Us
  • DONATE
  • TICKETS
Conservatory of Flowers
  • Home
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Audio Tour
  • Exhibits
    • Map
    • Galleries & What’s in Bloom
    • Virtual Tour
  • Learn
    • Self-Guided Student Visits
    • 3-5th Grade Guided Visits
    • Educational Resources
  • Your Event
    • Event Rentals
    • Weddings
    • Corporate
    • FAQs
    • Photo Permits
    • Submit Your Event Inquiry
    • Property Map
  • News
    • In the News
    • Conservatory Magazine
    • Conservatory Blog
    • Email Sign Up
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Become a Member
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • Letter from the Conservatory
    • Mission & Vision
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Our History
    • Staff
    • Advisory Council
    • Work with Us
    • Contact Us
  • DONATE
  • TICKETS
Nov 04

Heliamphora : Carnivores of the Tepuis

You probably know about Nepenthes and Sarracenias, but Heliamphoras are a less often seen carnivorous plant. They are a little more rare, but gaining in popularity with carnivorous plant enthusiasts.

Heliamphoras are from the cloud forest tepuis of Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil. A tepui is an extremely tall, flat-topped mountain, towering over the rainforests of Venezuela. Tepui means “House of the Gods” due to their height. The 115 or so tepuis in Southeast Venezuela, are each isolated and not connected to any other mountains. They often have sheer rock faces up to 10,000’ tall and remain largely inaccessible to people, except by helicopter or rock-climbing. There are only a couple tepuis that are popular backpacking destinations.

At an extremely high altitude, plants and animals have adapted to completely different conditions than those in the surrounding forests down below. A tepui will have a Heliamphora species growing on it that has adapted to that particular tepui. Some species grow in small, colorful clumps , others species form huge masses that can be seen from an airplane. Others cling to small crevasses in the rock face. Not all Heliamphora grow on the tepui summits. Some species may grow around the base, still at a high elevations. They are very tough plants and with their pitchers clustering tightly together, they withstand extreme wind, rain, temperature changes, and the highest levels of direct sunlight of anywhere on earth!

Heliamphora pitchers contain fine, downward facing hairs which keep their prey from escaping. Some species only have a ring of hairs just above the water line, keeping the prey down. All Heliamphora have a nectar spoon that secretes a sweet nectar to attract insects and small animals.The pitchers have slits on the side to help regulate the amount of water inside, and can be very colorful and beautiful. The flowers are also really nice, though not necessary for reproduction. For these plants, though they produce seed, they mostly reproduce vegetatively through buds on a rhizome-like subterranean stem.

This is a very satisfying plant to grow in a sunny spot, and in a tray of sphagnum moss with distilled or R.O. water. And be sure to watch Stewart McPherson’s fascinating video, Heliamphoras, the Marsh Pitcher Plants (see below). Stewart is an explorer, a field biologist, writer and photographer, well-known among carnivorous plant enthusiasts.

Follow us on Instagram

What's spiky, swamp-dwelling, and (at least) seven feet tall? It's the Swamp Arum, Lasimorpha senegalensis. Its bloom is perched on a towering stalk that nearly reaches the ceiling of the Aquatic Plants Gallery! Swipe for a closer look at the distinctively patterned bract that nearly encloses its inflorescence. Could this snazzy bract help attract pollinators to visit the many tiny flowers inside? 

As its name suggests, the Swamp Arum is an aquatic plant found in swamp forests and ponds of Western Africa. A leaf extract from this species is used in Nigerian traditional medicine for treatment of liver disease, and a few scientific studies have evaluated compounds in this plant for potential antibacterial properties and protective benefits for the liver.
•
Follow
What's spiky, swamp-dwelling, and (at least) seven feet tall? It's the Swamp Arum, Lasimorpha senegalensis. Its bloom is perched on a towering stalk that nearly reaches the ceiling of the Aquatic Plants Gallery! Swipe for a closer look at the distinctively patterned bract that nearly encloses its inflorescence. Could this snazzy bract help attract pollinators to visit the many tiny flowers inside? As its name suggests, the Swamp Arum is an aquatic plant found in swamp forests and ponds of Western Africa. A leaf extract from this species is used in Nigerian traditional medicine for treatment of liver disease, and a few scientific studies have evaluated compounds in this plant for potential antibacterial properties and protective benefits for the liver.
View on Instagram |
1/9
Marveling at the many leaf sizes, shapes and shades found in the Potted Plants gallery.
•
Follow
Marveling at the many leaf sizes, shapes and shades found in the Potted Plants gallery.
View on Instagram |
2/9
The delicate and fragrant Rhyncholaelia glauca is currently blooming in the Potted Plants gallery. 

Its a treat to get to see (and smell) this species up close. If you encountered it the wild, it would be likely growing high up in the trees as an epiphyte - farther from eye & nose level! 

Haven't heard of a Rhyncholaelia? That's no surprise - this is one of just 2 species in this genus. The other is Rhyncholaelia digbyana, the national flower of Honduras.
•
Follow
The delicate and fragrant Rhyncholaelia glauca is currently blooming in the Potted Plants gallery. Its a treat to get to see (and smell) this species up close. If you encountered it the wild, it would be likely growing high up in the trees as an epiphyte - farther from eye & nose level! Haven't heard of a Rhyncholaelia? That's no surprise - this is one of just 2 species in this genus. The other is Rhyncholaelia digbyana, the national flower of Honduras.
View on Instagram |
3/9
Don’t miss the Conservatory of Flowers’ ✨Award Winning ✨ display at the Pacific Orchid Exposition! Very fitting for this year’s expo theme: Masquerade. Congratulations to our horticulture team for creating this clever and beautiful display.

See the it yourself today, tomorrow & Sunday at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park - along with thousands of orchids in the show and sale, educational demonstrations and more. See the link in our bio for the full event description & ticket information.
•
Follow
Don’t miss the Conservatory of Flowers’ ✨Award Winning ✨ display at the Pacific Orchid Exposition! Very fitting for this year’s expo theme: Masquerade. Congratulations to our horticulture team for creating this clever and beautiful display. See the it yourself today, tomorrow & Sunday at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park - along with thousands of orchids in the show and sale, educational demonstrations and more. See the link in our bio for the full event description & ticket information.
View on Instagram |
4/9
Last chance to see this funky, fabulous flower of the Fabaceae! The Pride of Burma (Amherstia nobilis) is a member of Pea family (Fabaceae) and has a uniquely shaped flower like many of its relatives. It's nearing the final day or two of its bloom in the Aquatic Plants gallery.
•
Follow
Last chance to see this funky, fabulous flower of the Fabaceae! The Pride of Burma (Amherstia nobilis) is a member of Pea family (Fabaceae) and has a uniquely shaped flower like many of its relatives. It's nearing the final day or two of its bloom in the Aquatic Plants gallery.
View on Instagram |
5/9
Wanted: young orchid growers. Show your beautiful orchids at the 2022 Pacific Orchid Exposition hosted by @sforchidsociety! Enter plants in the youth category (ages 17 and under) and you might just be awarded the Imperiale Youth Prize, like previous winner Helen Liu. To be considered, bring plants with known names to Plant Entry at the SF County Fair Building tomorrow, Wednesday, 2/23, from 3pm to 8pm, and enter in Section 1200 as a youth exhibitor.

For everyone else, be sure to visit the 2022 Pacific Orchid Exposition this coming weekend (2/24-2/27) to see thousands of orchid flowers on display, a plant sale, hands-on horticultural demonstrations, and more. Plus the Conservatory of Flowers is just a 15-minute walk away from the County Fair Building, so you can visit us too!
•
Follow
Wanted: young orchid growers. Show your beautiful orchids at the 2022 Pacific Orchid Exposition hosted by @sforchidsociety! Enter plants in the youth category (ages 17 and under) and you might just be awarded the Imperiale Youth Prize, like previous winner Helen Liu. To be considered, bring plants with known names to Plant Entry at the SF County Fair Building tomorrow, Wednesday, 2/23, from 3pm to 8pm, and enter in Section 1200 as a youth exhibitor. For everyone else, be sure to visit the 2022 Pacific Orchid Exposition this coming weekend (2/24-2/27) to see thousands of orchid flowers on display, a plant sale, hands-on horticultural demonstrations, and more. Plus the Conservatory of Flowers is just a 15-minute walk away from the County Fair Building, so you can visit us too!
View on Instagram |
6/9
Looking to make this Valentine's Day one to remember? The Conservatory of Flowers offers intimate proposals and micro wedding packages that will create memories to last a lifetime. For more information, please visit the link in our bio and check out the events page to submit an inquiry.
•
Follow
Looking to make this Valentine's Day one to remember? The Conservatory of Flowers offers intimate proposals and micro wedding packages that will create memories to last a lifetime. For more information, please visit the link in our bio and check out the events page to submit an inquiry.
View on Instagram |
7/9
The delicate flowers of Angraecum eburneum, sometimes called the Comet Orchid. Currently blooming in the Potted Plants gallery! 

Photo credit ©SaxonHolt/PhotoBotanic (@summerdry.gardens)
•
Follow
The delicate flowers of Angraecum eburneum, sometimes called the Comet Orchid. Currently blooming in the Potted Plants gallery! Photo credit ©SaxonHolt/PhotoBotanic (@summerdry.gardens)
View on Instagram |
8/9
The Pacific Orchid Exposition is just over two weeks away! Come join the Orchid Masquerade from February 24th-27th at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park.

There will be thousands of orchid flowers and plants on display, with judging from the American Orchid Society, as well as plants for sale from members of the San Francisco Orchid Society as well as many local, national & international nurseries. Hands-on demonstrations will be conducted by experts with information about successfully growing and blooming orchids at home in San Francisco, as well as ongoing efforts to promote habitat conservation around the world. Families are welcome, and there will be special activities for kids and people of all ages and interests.

This event is hosted by the San Francisco Orchid Society. As usual, the Conservatory of Flowers will be participating with a spectacular botanical display. 

Learn more about the event, health and safety guidelines, and how to buy tickets via the link in our bio.
•
Follow
The Pacific Orchid Exposition is just over two weeks away! Come join the Orchid Masquerade from February 24th-27th at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. There will be thousands of orchid flowers and plants on display, with judging from the American Orchid Society, as well as plants for sale from members of the San Francisco Orchid Society as well as many local, national & international nurseries. Hands-on demonstrations will be conducted by experts with information about successfully growing and blooming orchids at home in San Francisco, as well as ongoing efforts to promote habitat conservation around the world. Families are welcome, and there will be special activities for kids and people of all ages and interests. This event is hosted by the San Francisco Orchid Society. As usual, the Conservatory of Flowers will be participating with a spectacular botanical display. Learn more about the event, health and safety guidelines, and how to buy tickets via the link in our bio.
View on Instagram |
9/9
View on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

Conservatory of Flowers
100 John F. Kennedy Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-831-2090

About Us
Visit
Exhibits & Events
Press Resources

Education
Your Event
In the News
Support Us

RecPark
© 2019 Conservatory of Flowers All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Terms of Use
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department