Silene suksdorfii
Cascade alpine campion, suksdorf's catchfly, Suksdorf'S Catchfly
(c) John Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Silene suksdorfii (Cascade alpine campion) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by purple glandular walls diagnostic, alpine Cascade habitat.
Cascade alpine campion is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak areas of the Cascade Range on rocky alpine slopes at elevations of 2,400 to 3,100 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces white to purple flowers with petals 1 to 2 millimeters long, featuring distinctive purple-walled hair cells. Growing as a low-lying herb 3 to 10 centimeters tall with many caudex branches, it has decumbent to erect stems that are puberulent and glandular toward the top. Its basal leaves form dense tufts up to 4.5 centimeters long and 3.5 millimeters wide, with cauline leaves becoming progressively smaller and more linear upward. The fruit is nearly ovoid, carried on a short 2 to 3.5 millimeter puberulent stalk.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; purple glandular walls diagnostic, alpine Cascade habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, alpine
Elevation: 2400-3100 m
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Silene suksdorfii blooms Summer.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 suksdorfii native to California?
Yes. Silene suksdorfii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Silene suksdorfii bloom?
Silene suksdorfii blooms Summer.
What plant family does Silene suksdorfii belong to?
Silene suksdorfii is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Silene.
Is Silene suksdorfii rare or endangered?
Silene suksdorfii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Silene suksdorfii grow in?
Silene suksdorfii grows in Rocky slopes, alpine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.