Darlingtonia — the hooded cobra lily, a striking but demanding pitcher plant from the cold mountain seeps of California and Oregon.
Bright light, and it handles a little shade better than most pitchers. Full sun is fine only if the roots are kept cool.
This is the whole game. Cobra lilies want cool roots and cool water — in the wild, cold runoff washes over them. Flush the pot regularly with cool mineral-free water, and in hot weather cool it further with cold water or ice cubes. Keep it constantly moist.
Living sphagnum, or a peat-and-perlite mix. A light-colored pot reflects heat and helps keep the roots cooler.
Temperate — it needs a cool winter rest. The real challenge is summer: sustained heat with warm roots will kill it. Keep the root zone cool and shaded when the weather turns hot.
None required.
Overheated roots are the number-one killer — a cobra lily that browns and collapses in summer was almost always too warm at the roots. This is not a beginner plant; get an easier carnivore thriving first.
Carnivorous plants are wildly diverse. Within every group, individual species can have their own specific needs — particular light levels, temperatures, dormancy triggers, or water depth — that aren’t covered here. Treat this as a starting point: check a species-specific guide, or ask the community, before committing to a particular plant.