Darlingtonia Natural Site - Predatory Cobra Lily | Oregon Coast

Darlingtonia State Natural Site is a 18-acre botanical preserve, located 5 miles north of Florence. A short boardwalk trail loops through a bog where unique and endangered species thrive. This site is dedicated to the protection of Cobra Lily or Cobra Orchid. The plant is known as a carnivorous plant and is also referred to as a pitcher plant.

Cobra Lily, scientifically called Darlingtonia Californica, is the only representative of the pitcher plant family or Sarraceniaceae in the state of Oregon.

The plant itself is native to Oregon and Northern California, however, it can’t readily be found in wild nature. Darlingtonia State Natural Site might be the only place in Oregon where you can witness insect-eating plants in action reminiscent of man-eaters of horror movies.

Cobra Lily is green in color with some orange and red spots. It starts to bloom in May and June with purple and yellow flowers, so this might be the best time to visit this site.

The plant can grow as high as three feet and features a mouth-like opening as well as an arched hood resembling a cobra shape, hence the nickname. All lilies in the park grow very close to each other creating an entire colorful carpet.

Darlingtonia Californica secretes sweet nectar attracting insects. Once an insect is inside, it's hard for it to get out due to the slick sides of the plant, nearly transparent areas that are mistaken for exits and downward-pointing hairs that get in the insect’s way out. The plant doesn’t kill its prey with poisons, rather it waits for natural death. After the insect dies, it is slowly digested and gets absorbed by the plant’s walls as nutrition.

Darlingtonia State Natural Site has a parking area as well as restrooms and a small picnic spot.

Important! Cobra Lily has been seriously diminished in the wild by illegal gathering. Collecting this rare plant is illegal in Oregon.