Silene laciniata subsp. californica
California pink, California Pink
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Silene laciniata subsp. californica (California pink) is a native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by . Key features: bright red 4-6 lobed petals, wide leaves, larger seeds, northern CA range.
California pink is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central coastal California, San Francisco Bay Area, northern southern Coast Ranges, southern California, western Transverse Ranges, western southern Gabilan Range, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral, oak woodland, and conifer forest at elevations below 2,200 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces pink flowers with deeply fringed petals in delicate clusters. Growing with slender stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops a branching habit with multiple flowering stems. Its leaves are widely lanceolate to ovate, arranged alternately along the stem, creating a soft and graceful appearance. The fruit contains small red-brown seeds approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, contributing to the plant's reproductive strategy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species. Key features: bright red 4-6 lobed petals, wide leaves, larger seeds, northern CA range.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, oak woodland, conifer forest, serpentine or not
Elevation: < 2200 m
California counties: Humboldt, Colusa, Kern, Tuolumne, Tulare, Placer, Lake, San Mateo, Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Madera, Marin, Plumas, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Ventura, Yolo, Butte, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Santa Clara, Shasta, Trinity, Contra Costa, Yuba, Solano
Outside California: Mexico
Bloom period
Silene laciniata subsp. californica blooms Spring-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 laciniata subsp. californica native to California?
Yes. Silene laciniata subsp. californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene laciniata subsp. californica bloom?
Silene laciniata subsp. californica blooms Spring-summer.
Where in California does Silene laciniata subsp. californica grow?
Silene laciniata subsp. californica occurs in Humboldt, Colusa, Kern, Tuolumne, Tulare, Placer, Lake, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 2200 m.
What plant family does Silene laciniata subsp. californica belong to?
Silene laciniata subsp. californica is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
What habitat does Silene laciniata subsp. californica grow in?
Silene laciniata subsp. californica grows in Chaparral, oak woodland, conifer forest, serpentine or not.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.