Silene pseudatocion
North african catchfly
(c) Josep Gesti, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Silene pseudatocion (North african catchfly) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by non-native annual with entire pink petals.
North african catchfly is a naturalized annual found in the central coast region in former gardens and roadsides at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces bright pink flowers with delicate petals. Growing 20 to 70 centimeters tall with clambering to erect stems that have sparse puberulent hairs bent toward the base, it has a distinctive climbing habit. Its leaves are oblanceolate, gradually reduced upward, measuring 1.3 to 5 centimeters long and 4 to 15 millimeters wide. The ovoid fruit is carried on a hairy stalk 9 to 10 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; non-native annual with entire pink petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Former gardens, roadsides
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to Balearic Islands, northern Africa
Bloom period
Silene pseudatocion blooms Spring.
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 pseudatocion native to California?
No. Silene pseudatocion is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Silene pseudatocion bloom?
Silene pseudatocion blooms Spring.
What plant family does Silene pseudatocion belong to?
Silene pseudatocion is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
What habitat does Silene pseudatocion grow in?
Silene pseudatocion grows in Former gardens, roadsides.
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.