Darlingtonia californica (UK Clone) • Seed-Grown Cobra Lily • Rare Collector’s Plant

🌀 Darlingtonia californica – Rare Seed-Grown UK Clone (6 Years Old)

Darlingtonia californica — also known as the Cobra Lily or Cobra pitcher plant — is one of the most extraordinary carnivorous plants you can grow. This exact plant is a 6-year-old, seed-grown specimen of the rare UK Clone, currently transitioning from juvenile growth into its signature cobra-like form. While it hasn’t yet developed the tall, upright pitchers seen in mature specimens, the curved hood and forked tongue are already beginning to show — a sign of what’s to come.

Darlingtonia are notoriously slow-growing and rarely offered in South Africa. This plant was grown from seed at Cultivo, using genetics from the highly sought-after UK Clone — a cultivar known for its vigour and resilience. Most Cobra Lilies available locally are propagated by division or tissue culture, but this one is a seed-grown original, fully acclimatised and ready to grow in South African conditions. You’ll receive the exact plant pictured - well established and sent potted to minimise root disturbance.

🌱 What Makes This Cobra Lily So Awesome?

• ✔ Rare UK Clone – not widely available worldwide
• ✔ 6 years old – entering its mature growth phase
• ✔ In transition – developing cobra hoods, not yet fully upright
• ✔ Slow grower – ideal for terrariums, paludariums & cool greenhouses and displays
• ✔ Cultivo Exclusive – Grown from seed at Cultivo
• ✔ Exact plant shown – what you see is what you’ll get!

🐍 How Do Cobra Lilies Work?

Unlike most pitcher plants, Cobra Lilies don’t use digestive fluids in their traps. Instead, they rely on a network of translucent “windows” and hidden exits to confuse insects. Once prey enters the hooded trap, it becomes disoriented by the light patterns and is eventually guided down a slippery tube toward the bottom, where it’s digested by symbiotic bacteria. It’s one of the most complex and fascinating trap mechanisms in the carnivorous plant world.

🇬🇧 What Makes the UK Clone So Special?

The UK Clone is a rare cultivar of Darlingtonia californica that’s highly regarded for its vigour, unique form, and long-term resilience. It's not commonly available in South Africa and is typically found only in specialist collections abroad. Growing a plant from seed of this species is incredibly rare, as Darlingtonia seeds are difficult to obtain and even harder to germinate successfully. This plant is a one-of-a-kind, seed-grown original from Cultivo’s private collection.

💡 Where It Thrives

This plant is perfect for cool greenshouses, terrariums, paludariums, and grow setups with full-spectrum LED lighting. Its slow, steady growth and love of cooler root zones make it a top pick for collectors looking to level up their carnivorous plant game.

Recommended for carni fans who are ready to upgrade to the next level of awesomeness in the carnivorous plant world!

📦 How It Ships

• 🪴 Sent potted – to protect the delicate root system and reduce transplant stress
• 📦 Securely packed for safe shipping – potted in an airy, cool-growing carnivorous soil mix
• 📸 Exact plant pictured – no substitutes, no surprises

ℹ️ Quick Tip: Keep Those Roots Cool!

ℹ️ Darlingtonia care tips – Cobra lilies prefer bright light and cool roots. Use cold water and avoid high midday temps for best results.

🌟 One Available · Cultivo Exclusive

This 6-year-old Cobra Lily is a once-off release from our private collection. Only one available – don’t miss out on this rare, seed-grown UK Clone grown and offered exclusively at Cultivo.

Ordering

• 🛒 Website items are available online only – We ship anywhere in South Africa
• ⏳ Processing Time – Paid orders are usually processed within 24 hours on weekdays and shipped within 2-3 days (Monday to Friday)

Payment

• 🔒 Secure Payments – Pay via Yoco or Payfast. We also accept EFTs

Delivery

• 🚚 Delivery Options – Full tracking available with Pargo and door-to-door courier. Pickup and Local delivery within Gauteng available
• 📧 Order Updates – Opt-in for email notifications by checking the box at checkout
• 💰 Shipping Rates from R139 – Get a free, instant estimate using the shipping calculator on the cart page before checking out! This rate covers all packaging materials and actual delivery costs—what you see is what you pay - no hidden fees!
• ✨ Free Shipping on all orders over R2000

• Just a quick heads-up: Since plants are natural products, you might notice some slight variations when unboxing your plants
• We do our best to make sure the plants you receive look like the ones in the photos, but keep in mind that seasons change and plants grow. Some leaves might age and die off, new ones might sprout and the plants may look a bit different over time
• 99% of what we sell are one-of-a-kind collector items, so you will receive the exact plant pictured. The labels are spot on, so even if the plant looks a bit different, we 100% guarantee it's the real deal
• Also, all the photos you see are of our own plants unless we mention otherwise. We update images occasionally to keep things fresh. If you want to see updated pictures before you buy, just let us know – we're happy to help!