Silene grayi
Gray's catchfly
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Silene grayi (Gray's catchfly) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by . Key features: Klamath/north Cascades only, fleshy leaves, compact alpine form, 4-lobed petals.
Gray's catchfly is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern California Ranges in chaparral, conifer forest, and alpine habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,900 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces delicate pink to purple flowers with petals 3 to 5 millimeters long that nod gracefully. Growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall with decumbent to erect stems that are puberulent and glandular toward the top, it forms a dense caudex with many branching stems. Its leaves are distinctively fleshy, with basal leaves forming tufted clusters 1.5 to 4 centimeters long and narrowly oblanceolate, while cauline leaves become progressively smaller and more linear upward. The fruit is a small ovoid capsule carried on short puberulent stalks, containing brown seeds 2 to 3 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species. Key features: Klamath/north Cascades only, fleshy leaves, compact alpine form, 4-lobed petals.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, conifer forest, alpine
Elevation: 1200-2900 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Del Norte, Shasta, Trinity, Humboldt, Tehama
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Silene grayi blooms Summer.
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 grayi native to California?
Yes. Silene grayi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene grayi bloom?
Silene grayi blooms Summer.
Where in California does Silene grayi grow?
Silene grayi occurs in Siskiyou, Del Norte, Shasta, Trinity, Humboldt, Tehama, at elevations of 1200-2900 m.
What plant family does Silene grayi belong to?
Silene grayi is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
What habitat does Silene grayi grow in?
Silene grayi grows in Chaparral, conifer forest, alpine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.