# Moss Campion (*silene acaulis*) Moss Campion is a tiny, colorful flower that often grows in rocky places. Its bright pink blooms can make a whole hillside look like a fluffy blanket of color! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Moss Campion lives in rocky, alpine areas, often found in tundra and mountain regions. - **Also known as:** Moss Pink ![Moss Campion](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mosscampionclose.jpg&width=800) Photo: Michael Haferkamp, aka Mikesegeln at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mosscampionclose.jpg) ## Appearance The Moss Campion is a low-growing plant forming dense, cushion-like mats of tightly packed green leaves. It produces numerous small, star-shaped flowers, typically bright pink, though sometimes white or pale purple, often appearing directly on the mossy cushion. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Silene ## Interesting facts - It helps tiny insects and other plants by creating warm, sheltered mini-homes. - Its flowers sometimes change from bright pink to pale white depending on the local temperature! - Some Moss Campion cushions are over 100 years old! Talk about ancient plants! - These hardy plants can grow closer to mountain tops than most other flowering plants! ## Special abilities - **Arctic Blanket:** Moss Campion grows in dense, cushion-like mats, trapping warmth and sheltering itself from harsh winds in its cold mountain home. - **Rock Gripper:** It sends down long taproots to anchor itself securely in shallow, rocky soils, preventing it from being blown away. - **Speedy Sprinter:** Moss Campion can quickly burst into bloom during short arctic and alpine summers to ensure it produces seeds. - **Frost Fighter:** Its cells contain natural compounds that act like antifreeze, allowing it to survive freezing temperatures. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 10-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Arctic Bumblebee (*Bombus polaris*) — Main pollinator in Arctic environments. - **Pollinates:** [Green-veined White](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-veined-white) (*Pieris napi*) — Attracted to its bright flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** Reindeer (*Rangifer tarandus*) — A food source for grazing herbivores. - **Eaten by:** Tundra Vole (*Microtus oeconomus*) — Voles may browse its leaves and stems. - **Shelter:** Narrow-headed Ant (*Formica exsecta*) — Ants may nest within the protective cushion. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Moss Campion? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Moss Campion? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Moss Campion spread? 10-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Moss Campion? 1-2 cm ### When does Moss Campion bloom? Summer ### Is Moss Campion edible? Yes ### Is Moss Campion toxic? None ### What is Moss Campion's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Independence](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/independence) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Kennecott](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kennecott) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Summit Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/summit-lake-park) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ordesa-y-monte-perdido-national-park) — Aragon, ES · National Park - [Cathedral Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cathedral-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Moss Campion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/moss-campion) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Moss Campion: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moss-campion)