Darlingtonia californica
California Pitcherplant · Cobra Lily · Calf's Head
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
The plant
- Habit
- Carnivorous, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Habit
- perennialPlants of the World Online
- Flower
- Green, Red/BurgundyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Blooms
- Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Native range
- California, OregonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Hardiness zones
- 7-10Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Soil
- High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Soil pH
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Moisture
- Frequent Standing Water, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Worth knowing
- Insects come for nectar on the hood, crawl into the opening beneath it, and are kept from leaving by downward-pointing hairs. Microbes in the fluid break them down, and the plant absorbs what is released. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Darlingtonia californica
Protocol
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998Difficulty Moderate
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 21 days.
100% germination in 21 days.
How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.
Germination trials
Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials
No trials shared for this species yet.