Question
Has anyone thoroughly explored the Baja California area of Mexico for carnivorous plants, Darlingtonia in particular.  It is often a companion of the western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, a plant I am trying to find out if it occurs in Mexico.

Answer
Hi Mike,

Just because of the sheer arid climate in Baja carnivorous plants are not likely to be common.  Also, Darlingtonia is very much a temperate species, and by the time you get that far south, the climate is becoming subtropical even at the higher elevations.  As far as I'm aware of, the Mt. Shasta area in California is the furthest south that Darlingtonia occurs naturally.  Here's an article that includes a map:  http://www.siskiyous.edu/shasta/art/smith/darcal.htm (There's one colony listed in Linn County, Oregon that I seriously question.)

Here's a link that might also be helpful:  http://www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq7510a.html

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com