Silene invisa
Short-petaled campion, Short-Petaled Campion
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Silene invisa (Short-petaled campion) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by . Key features: KR/high Cascades, extremely small petals (1-2mm), cream to pink color.
Short-petaled campion is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, southern Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in open areas and conifer forests at elevations of 900 to 2,800 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces cream to pink flowers small in size with delicate, slightly notched petals. Growing with erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall that are puberulent and slightly glandular above, it develops a sparse woody caudex. Its leaves are linear to narrowly oblanceolate, progressively reduced upward, measuring 1.5 to 5 centimeters long and 2 to 6 millimeters wide. The fruit is a small, nearly ovoid to cylindric capsule with a puberulent surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species. Key features: KR/high Cascades, extremely small petals (1-2mm), cream to pink color.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas, conifer forest
Elevation: 900-2800 m
Bloom period
Silene invisa 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 invisa native to California?
Yes. Silene invisa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene invisa bloom?
Silene invisa blooms Summer.
What plant family does Silene invisa belong to?
Silene invisa is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
What habitat does Silene invisa grow in?
Silene invisa grows in Open areas, conifer forest.
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.