Atocion armeria
Sweet-william catchfly, Sweet-William Catchfly
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Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Atocion armeria (Sweet-william catchfly) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by Atocion was recently separated from Silene and represents a small group of Mediterranean catchflies.
Sweet-william catchfly is a naturalized annual found in southern California's San Diego County and eastern Sierra Nevada in Mono County, occurring in disturbed areas at elevations of 500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering during the summer, this plant produces white to pink flowers with petals approximately 5 millimeters long. Growing 20 to 40 centimeters tall with slender, upright stems, it develops multiple branching stems. Its leaves are relatively broad, measuring 1 to 6 centimeters long and 5 to 25 millimeters wide, arranged along the plant's stems. Small seeds measuring 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters accompany its delicate floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Atocion was recently separated from Silene and represents a small group of Mediterranean catchflies
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: 500-2500 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Utah, eastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Atocion armeria blooms Summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Atocion armeria native to California?
No. Atocion armeria is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Atocion armeria bloom?
Atocion armeria blooms Summer.
What plant family does Atocion armeria belong to?
Atocion armeria is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Atocion.
What habitat does Atocion armeria grow in?
Atocion armeria grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.