Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) Darlingtonia californica
Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) (Darlingtonia californica) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Sarraceniaceae family, native to Cold-water seeps and serpentine fens of northern California and southern Oregon. It grows 30–90 cm (12–35 in) tall and 30–50 cm (12–20 in) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about -15 °C (5 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Sarraceniaceae |
| Mature height | 30–90 cm (12–35 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 4.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -15 °C (5 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 7) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Cold-water seeps and serpentine fens of northern California and southern Oregon |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇯🇵 Japan |
Is Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Cobra lily (California pitcher plant)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Questions about Cobra lily (California pitcher plant)
- How far apart should I plant Cobra lily (California pitcher plant)?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–50 cm (12–20 in).
- Does Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Cobra lily (California pitcher plant)?
- It tolerates about -15 °C (5 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 7.
- When does Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) flower?
- From about May for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous.
- What grows well with Cobra lily (California pitcher plant)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Cobra lily (California pitcher plant). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- International Carnivorous Plant Society: cultivation and species guides, International Carnivorous Plant Society
- Calscape: California native plants, California Native Plant Society
Notes and assumptions
- A carnivorous bog plant: grow it in wet, nutrient-poor peat and sand, water only with rain or distilled water, never feed the soil, and give it full sun.
- Twisted tubular pitchers end in a hooded dome, like a rearing cobra, with a forked red “tongue”; translucent windows in the hood confuse trapped insects. Unusually, its roots need cold, flowing water even in summer: in warm gardens it fails unless the roots are kept cool. Oregon protects a bog of them at the Darlingtonia State Natural Site.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Purple pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Foxglove Digitalis purpurea