Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri
Scouler's catchfly, Scouler's Catchfly
Daderot (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC0
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri (Scouler's catchfly) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat, unequal petal lobes.
Scouler's catchfly is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northern coastal, central coastal, and San Francisco Bay Area regions on rocky slopes and coastal bluffs at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces white to rose-colored flowers with delicate petals featuring 2 to 4 distinctive lobes. Growing 15 to 70 centimeters tall with densely puberulent and glandular stems, it has an erect growth habit with progressively smaller leaves along its length. Its lower leaves are oblanceolate to elliptic, 5 to 10 centimeters long and 12 to 20 millimeters wide, while upper leaves become increasingly narrow and lanceolate to ovate. The plant produces elliptic to ovoid fruits on short 3 to 6 millimeter stalks, which are slightly puberulent or woolly.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; coastal habitat, unequal petal lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, coastal bluffs
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, San Mateo
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri blooms Summer.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 scouleri subsp. scouleri native to California?
Yes. Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri bloom?
Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri blooms Summer.
Where in California does Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri grow?
Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri occurs in Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, San Mateo, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri belong to?
Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
Is Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri rare or endangered?
Silene scouleri subsp. scouleri carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2S3.
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.