Nepenthes National Plant Collection
Not only do we protect animals from extinction, our Plant team also work hard to save endangered plant species too.
Chester Zoo is home to five National Plant Collections – including the Nepenthes collection. This species of plant, also known as a tropical pitcher plant or monkey cup, can be found across South East Asia and have a very interesting diet, they eat flesh!
People used to think that they only ate insects, but if you were to look inside a plant in the wild you might see a frog, rodent or lizard.
On the edge of extinction
We’re home to one of the largest collections of carnivorous plants in the UK, with over 2000 plants. Many of the 170 known species of Nepenthes known to science are already on the very edge of extinction. That’s why our plant team is committed to protecting the future of these incredible and varied species.
We have around 120 species at the zoo and the skills and expertise of our staff is vital in ensuring these incredible plants thrive. They’re kept in special conditions to replicate the hot and humid environment of the rainforests of South East Asia – where temperatures can exceed 40°C.
Our Nepenthes are among one of the best collections of carnivorous plants you’ll find anywhere in the UK.
Our award-winning gardens are home to...
2000 carnivorous plants
We're home to over 2000 carnivorous plants, making our collection one of the largest ever in the UK.
Over 130 species
These incredible plants are kept in special conditions at the zoo.
Over 1500 cacti
We have more than 1500 individual species of cacti at the zoo.
