Website links
Darlingtonia
Commonly called the cobra lily due to the shape of the pitcher which resembles a cobra ready to strike, Darlingtoniais a unique and fascinating plant. The pitchers are similar to Sarraceniain that it consists of a hollow tube, complete with the downward pointing hairs. The opening is quite small, and insects that are lured to the plant have the false illusion that they can fly out the back of the pitcher due to 'windows'. These windows are tissue which lacks any colouration and allows light to enter the pitcher. The insect, flying towards the window, make the same mistake as the bird that tries to enter your home this way. They smack against it, and fall down into the fluid below, where they are drowned and broken down by bacteria.
Darlingtoniais native to the Oregon and northern California coastlines. It is a mountain plant, always living near cool, flowing water which runs over it's rhizome and roots. This is very important to keep in mind when cultivating the plant, as warm roots will quickly lead to its death.
Species
There is currently only one species, Darlingtonia californica. There also exists a cultivar which produces flowers with no red pigment in them. This has been named 'Othello' in honour of Othello's jealousy!
Soil and Containers
Cobra lily's prefer a medium of live sphagnum, nothing else works better in my opinion. The pots should be quite large, to allow for stolon growth, and light in colour, to reflect as much heat as possible. While the plant appreciates a great deal of water, this should be cool, and, if possible, running. It should always be watered from the top, flooding the pot several times before stopping. On hot summer days, ice cubes on the surface of the soil are an excellent idea.
Climate
As stated, this is a mountain plant, so it appreciates cool conditions year round. Cobra lily's cannot take direct sun either, and prefer to grow in shadier areas making it an excellent candidate for north facing areas.
In winter, Darlingtoniais dormant, though it does not produce phyllodia like Sarracenia do, and will often keep it's pitchers until the following season. During this time, it should be kept cool (down to -15 degrees celsius) and watered sparingly.
Propagation
Darlingtoniacan be propagated through seed, stolon cuttings, division, and tissue culture.
Seed and division are similar to Sarraceniaso can be referred to in that section. Seed is brown and bristly in nature to help disperse itself by catching rides in animals fur to be deposited elsewhere. Plants raised from seed may take up to 10 years to reach maturity!
One of the unique things about Darlingtoniais it's massive production of plantlets through stolons. It sends out stolons during the growing season, which may exceed lengths of several feet. Eventually, the stolon stops growing and produces a new plantlet a the tip. Once rooted, this daughter plant can simply be cut off with a sharp knife and repotted. A full size plant can be obtained within a couple of years using this technique. If you do not remove the daughter plants, you will eventually have a container brimming with pitchers of all sizes and ages, a beautiful sight!
Darlingtoniaseed can be sterilized and introduced into tissue culture as well.
Seasonal Care
As with all carnivorous plants, dead growth should be removed. The soil (sphagnum) should not need to be replaced, as long as it's in good health. Clumps of this plant do not encourage the growth of fungus, as do clumps of Sarracenia, so can be left alone. Essentially, if the plant is kept cool, it takes care of itself quite well.
Pests and Diseases
Same things as Sarracenia. In the wild, Darlingtonia is referred to as a salt lick for deer. Deer eat the pitchers to get at the salt contained in the tissue, leaving behind beheaded cobras!