Silene krantzii
Krantz's catchfly
(c) Nina House, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Silene krantzii (Krantz's catchfly) is a native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by unknown specific range data.
Krantz's catchfly is a rare California native perennial ranked 1B.2 by CNPS, found in alpine areas above treeline at elevations of 3,000 to 3,500 meters in open, sandy or gravelly terrain. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces delicate pink flowers with petals 2.5 to 4 millimeters long, featuring distinctive two-lobed blossoms. Growing with prostrate to ascending stems 2 to 10 centimeters tall, it has a sticky-glandular surface that gives the plant a distinctive texture. Its basal leaves are linear-oblanceolate, 1 to 3 millimeters wide, and sticky-glandular on both surfaces, gradually reducing in size toward the stem tip. The reddish-tinged calyx is densely glandular and 8 to 15 millimeters long, enclosing a narrow ellipsoid fruit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; unknown specific range data
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy or gravelly areas, above treeline
Elevation: 3000-3500 m
Bloom period
Silene krantzii blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 krantzii native to California?
Yes. Silene krantzii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene krantzii bloom?
Silene krantzii blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Silene krantzii belong to?
Silene krantzii is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
Is Silene krantzii rare or endangered?
Silene krantzii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Silene krantzii grow in?
Silene krantzii grows in Open, sandy or gravelly areas, above treeline.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.