Darlingtonia californica is the only species of the genus Darlingtonia. It belongs to the pitfall traps and is also very closely related to the genus Sarracenia. This beautiful species owes its name to the pitcher that look like an upright standing cobra. The color of the flowers is white. Unfortunately, due to its root sensitivity, this species is not particularly easy, which is due to the fact that the roots are cooled by flowing groundwater at the natural site. Nevertheless, this species is very interesting in my opinion and should therefore not be missing in any collection.
Darlingtonia californica
English name: California pitcher plant
Described by: John Torrey (1853)
Distribution: California, Oregon
Habit, Duration: terrestrial, perennial
My own experience:
Some time ago I ordered this very interesting plant from my hardware store, but unfortunately it didn't look that good when I got it.
First of all I put it next to the south window. There it developed splendidly for a short time, but on a very hot summer day the plant died.
The pot or the roots stood directly in the sun, whereupon it died within two days.
A few years later I tried again, but unfortunately the plant fell victim to the root fungus again after a few months.
In summer 2018 I placed a small plant in my second bog garden. Well protected between sphagnum moss and a few Sarracenia,
it is growing amazingly well so far.
Light: light to shady, south side is well suited, the pot should be in the shade or in an additional clay pot
Humidity: >60 %
Temperature: Summer: 20-30 °C, Winter: 5-10 °C, roots should always be kept cool
Substrate: Perlite-peat-sand-sphagnum mixture
Watering: no accumulation, roots may rot
Propagation: Seeds, division
Level of difficulty: