Flower profile
California pitcher plant
Darlingtonia californica
California pitcher plant (Darlingtonia californica) is a low shrub in the Sarraceniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.
California pitcher plant is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Oregon it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Oregon
Quick look
Darlingtonia californica is a species of carnivorous plant in the new world pitcher plant family, Sarraceniaceae. The cobra lily is the sole species within its monotypic genus, Darlingtonia.
- It belongs to the Sarraceniaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Oregon. NatureServe
- In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,778 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #99 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Oregon, most flowering sightings come in April–June.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Resolved Taxon,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G3 Vulnerable worldwide. NatureServe
- Oregon
- Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Oregon. NatureServe
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “California Pitcher Plant” (Darlingtonia californica) lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records California pitcher plant in 3 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Oregon, Washington.
Oregon counties with USDA records: Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Tillamook.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Chrysamphora californica.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 20 counties across 3 states; the most are in California (9), Oregon (9), Washington (2).
More from the Sarraceniaceae family (7 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Purple pitcher plant, Yellow pitcher plant, Hooded pitcher plant, Pale pitcher plant, White pitcher plant, Parrot pitcher plant, Burk's southern pitcher plant.
More Oregon flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile DACA5.
- iNaturalist, Darlingtonia californica: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Darlingtonia californica (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
- Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Darlingtonia californica (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Alan Weakley via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.