Silene aperta
Naked catchfly, tulare campion, Tulare Campion
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Silene aperta (Naked catchfly) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by . Key features: high elevation Sierra Nevada, white to yellow-green petals, perennial.
Naked catchfly is a California native perennial found in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in open areas and conifer forest at elevations of 1,800 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to yellow-green flowers with petals 12 to 20 millimeters long and four-lobed limbs. Growing with erect stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall that are puberulent (softly hairy), it develops many branched caudex stems. Its leaves range from linear to oblanceolate, with basal and middle leaves 5 to 12 centimeters long and 1 to 4 millimeters wide, becoming progressively smaller and narrower toward the stem's upper portions. The fruit is a small ovoid structure carried on a short 1 to 2 millimeter puberulent stalk.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species. Key features: high elevation Sierra Nevada, white to yellow-green petals, perennial.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas, conifer forest
Elevation: 1800-2800 m
Bloom period
Silene aperta blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Spigelia: Silene has 5 separate petals in pink family arrangement; Spigelia has tubular red flowers with 5-lobed tips.; vs Pelargonium: Silene has radially symmetric flowers with 5 equal petals; Pelargonium has bilateral flowers with unequal petals.; vs Cistanthe: Silene has a tubular calyx fused around the flower; Cistanthe has 2 separate, rounded sepals that fall off.; vs Castilleja: Silene has showy petals; Castilleja's color comes from bracts hiding tiny tubular flowers.; vs Petrorhagia: Silene has an inflated, rounded calyx tube; Petrorhagia has a narrow, cylindrical calyx with papery bracts below.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silene aperta native to California?
Yes. Silene aperta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene aperta bloom?
Silene aperta blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Silene aperta belong to?
Silene aperta is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
Is Silene aperta rare or endangered?
Silene aperta carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Silene aperta grow in?
Silene aperta grows in Open areas, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.