It invariably grows in swampy areas as it seems to prefer having its roots in wet conditions. A roadside plant in one of our towns was growing from a ditch and had spread out to climb up two or three nearby trees to a height of over 30 feet. The upper pitchers looked huge, at least 15 inches high. Can be found in green and red variations. Pitcher colors vary from cream, green, speckled and red with different colors of peristome and a different shaped lip all adding to the confusion.
Upper pitchers vary much in shape there although there is little variation of the lower pitchers.
N. rafflesiana var. N. hirsuta upper pitcher N. hirsuta. A highland species in Brunei. The particular plant above was found at 1000ft growing in damp mossy conditions and in complete shade. It grows in almost any conditions, swamp, silica sand, barren hillsides with little soil, etc.