Native Plants

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Beckers, Eric

Silene acaulis

Silene acaulis (L.) Jacq.

Moss Campion, Cushion Pink

Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SIAC

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

This popular rock garden plant makes tight, moss-like cushions of almost spiny, glossy leaves which seem to flow over the rocks. Long, woody taproots anchor the perennial deeply in rock crevices. In flower, pink to purple, five-petaled blossoms dot the bright-green mat in profusion. Flowers occur at the ends of leafy branches.

This beautiful little mountain-dwelling wildflower forms extensive moss-like carpets in the western mountains but appears only locally in the East, where Mt. Washington in New Hampshire is its southern limit.

From the Image Gallery

14 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CO , ID , ME , MT , NH , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: NS
Native Distribution: Circumpolar (var. exscapa), s. in N. America to OR, ID, n. MT & NH; extending s. in the Rockies to NM & AZ as var. subacaulescens
Native Habitat: Moist, chalky rock crevices in high mts.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Rich, scree soil.
Conditions Comments: This is a trouble-free, rock garden plant.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Can be propagated from stem cuttings. Plants come easily from seed, and should be transplanted to the rockery when the rosettes get 1-2 in. across.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		UPL	UPL			FAC			UPL	UPL

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Silene acaulis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Silene acaulis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Silene acaulis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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