Bloomipedia
Moss campion (Silene acaulis)
Photo: Matt Muir via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Moss campion

Silene acaulis

Native in the lower 48

Moss campion is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

13states
3of our state lists
4,988U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming

Quick look

Silene acaulis, known as moss campion or cushion pink, is a small wildflower that is common all over the high arctic and tundra and in high mountains of Eurasia and North America. It is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae.

  • It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 13 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado, Alaska and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. iNaturalist
  • In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,473 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #59 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,169 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #35 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 355 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #83 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

Moss campion gift ideas

Handmade moss campion gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Moss campion art print

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (373 records)
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–September2,473
AlaskaNativeMay–August1,169
WyomingNativefew records355

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: ME (SX), NH (S1), NV (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Mossy campion is edible when cooked. It was used as a vegetable by peasants in Iceland and the Arctic and Alpine regions. The Eskimos use the raw root skin as food. The plant contains saponins and should not be ingested in large quantities.” NC State Extension

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Moss Campion” (Silene acaulis) lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records moss campion in 13 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Archuleta, Boulder, Clear Creek, Custer, Dolores, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mineral, Montezuma, Park, Pitkin, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Nome, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Lincoln, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton.

More Colorado flowers

White campion (Silene latifolia)

White campion

Silene latifolia

Introduced

🌼 Blooms: May–September
Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides)

Sea sandwort

Honckenya peploides

Native

🌼 Blooms: May–July
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–October

Sources