California pitcher plants

Darlingtonia californica is a species of carnivorous plant in the new world pitcher plant family, Sarraceniaceae. The cobra lily is the sole species within its monotypic genus, Darlingtonia.

The cobra lily is native to Northern California and southwest Oregon, up to Tillamook Co. on the coast of Oregon in the western United States. The climate in its habitats ranges from seacoast to near alpine, but is still Mediterranean (Koppen-Geiger Csb) with cool to cold temperatures and ample rain or snow in winter, and mild temperatures with little to no rain in summer. The cobra lily is restricted to perennial water flow of bogs, fens, and seeps. It has even been observed growing in perennial water flow (~seeps) of drainage ditches on the sides of roads. Like other carnivorous plants, cobra lily occurs on nutrient-poor substrates. It most commonly occurs on serpentine (ultramafic) rock, but also occurs on nutrient-poor silica sand deposits (Tertiary Gravel). Despite being fairly commonly cultivated, Darlingtonia is designated as uncommon due to its rarity in the field.