Moss Campion

Moss campion (Silene acaulis) is a low, cushion-forming perennial in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae). It carpets alpine tundra and fell fields in Banff National Park; one of the signature plants of the high country above treeline.

Identification: Dense, moss-like cushion (5–15 cm diameter); tiny, narrow leaves; solitary pink, five-petaled flowers (1–2 cm) at the cushion surface. Grows as a low mat; protecting against wind and cold. Flowers may take 10+ years to appear on new cushions.

Habitat: Alpine (above ~2,000 m); rocky tundra, fell fields, and exposed ridges. Often with purple saxifrage, alpine forget-me-not, and western anemone. Blooms June to August.

Ecology: Cushion form traps heat and moisture; deep roots anchor in thin soils. Pollinated by flies and bumblebees. Do not step on cushions; they grow slowly and are easily damaged.