Silene salmonacea
Klamath mountain catchfly, salmon-flowered catchfly, Salmon-Flowered Catchfly
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Silene salmonacea (Klamath mountain catchfly) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by distinctive salmon-orange flowers and gray-green canescent appearance.
Klamath mountain catchfly is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in serpentine and iron-rich soil openings and mixed-evergreen forest at elevations of 760 to 1,050 meters. Flowering in June, this plant produces salmon-orange flowers with white-based green petals, the delicate blooms rising on erect stems. Growing 5 to 14 centimeters tall with gray-green, canescent stems, it develops a branched rhizome with distinctive lower leaves that are spoon-shaped to oblanceolate. Its lowest leaves measure 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long and 0.4 to 0.8 centimeters wide, creating a compact and intricate botanical profile. The fruit develops as a nearly spherical structure with a slender 5-millimeter stalk, bearing seeds approximately 2.2 millimeters in size and reddish in color.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; distinctive salmon-orange flowers and gray-green canescent appearance
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine and iron-rich soils in openings or mixed-evergreen forest
Elevation: 760-1050 m
California counties: Trinity
Bloom period
Silene salmonacea blooms Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 salmonacea native to California?
Yes. Silene salmonacea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene salmonacea bloom?
Silene salmonacea blooms Jun.
Where in California does Silene salmonacea grow?
Silene salmonacea occurs in Trinity, at elevations of 760-1050 m.
What plant family does Silene salmonacea belong to?
Silene salmonacea is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
Is Silene salmonacea rare or endangered?
Silene salmonacea carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.