Sidalcea malviflora

Common Names

Checker Bloom, California Checkerbloom, Checkerbloom, Checker Mallow, Dwarf Checkerbloom, Dwarf Checker Mallow, Wild Hollyhock

Summary

Checker Bloom is a native perennial herb in the Malvaceae family widespread across western North America from Oregon to California, inhabiting meadows, prairies, coastal sage scrub, and open flats; it grows from rhizomes with woody crowns, forms dense clumps of bright green, palmately lobed leaves, and bears pink to purple flowers about 1 inch across on vertical spikes that open in the morning and last into summer, reseeding readily and attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil with moisture needs ranging from low to moderate; hardiness zones 5–9; typically reaches 2–5 ft tall with a ~3 ft width and is well-suited for borders, meadows, or wild gardens and also usable as cut flowers; maintenance includes deadheading to prolong bloom and pruning after flowering to encourage a second bloom, with propagation by seed (often after a warm-water soak) or division.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-4 feet

Spread

1-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, fertile loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

6-7

Bloom Color

Pink to purple, including light pink, lavender, and rose-purple; rarely white.

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Dark Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies