Darlingtonia State Natural Site (near Crescent City)

About the Attraction

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A visit to Darlingtonia State Natural Site offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of carnivorous plants. Here's what to expect:

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• Unique Botanical Wonder: This 18-acre preserve is Oregon's only state park dedicated to protecting a single plant species—the rare Darlingtonia californica, also known as the cobra lily or California pitcher plant, which thrives in this specialized bog environment.

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• Nature's Ingenious Design: Marvel at the yellowish-green hooded leaves forming 10-20 inch hollow tubes with distinctive mustache-shaped appendages and mottled purplish-red hoods. These remarkable plants lure insects with sweet nectar, trap them with downward-pointing hairs, and digest them in pools of water at the bottom of their stalks.

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• Accessible Exploration: A well-maintained wooden boardwalk trail guides visitors through this otherworldly habitat without disturbing the delicate ecosystem, making this natural wonder accessible to all, including wheelchair users.

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• Diverse Ecosystem: Beyond the star attraction, discover a lush assortment of vegetation including Douglas fir, incense cedar, western azaleas, evergreen huckleberry, and other plants that thrive in this unique serpentine soil environment.

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It's a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone fascinated by the remarkable adaptations of carnivorous plants in their natural habitat.