Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella
Harsh checkerbloom, sierra foothills checkerbloom, Sierra Foothills Checkerbloom
Photo: parent species Sidalcea asprella · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella (Harsh checkerbloom) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by habitat and growth form.
Harsh checkerbloom is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the northern California Ranges, and northern and central Sierra Nevada Highlands in open woodland, dry rocky slopes, and lower conifer forest at elevations of 200 to 900 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pink to lavender flowers with delicate petals 2 to 2.5 centimeters long. Growing 3 to 10 feet tall with often weak stems that have stellate-hairy bases, it spreads through short rhizomes less than 10 centimeters long. Its leaves are gradually reduced upwards, with lobed shapes and toothed lobe tips, covered in simple to stellate hairs. The plant produces fruit with 7 to 8 segments and a minimal beak approximately 0.5 to 0.8 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species - distinguished by habitat and growth form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open woodland, dry rocky slopes, foothill woodland, lower conifer forest
Elevation: (100)200-900(1800) m
California counties: Shasta, Tulare, Placer, Modoc, Nevada, Butte, Calaveras, Madera, Mariposa, El Dorado
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Malva: Sidalcea has no bract ring below flowers and anthers in two circles; Malva has 3 bracts and scattered anthers.; vs Clarkia: Sidalcea has mallow flowers with fused stamens; Clarkia has 4 separate petals and 8 separate stamens.; vs Geranium: Sidalcea has bowl-shaped flowers with fused stamens; Geranium has 5 separate petals and long beaked fruits.; vs Malacothamnus: Sidalcea is herbaceous in meadows; Malacothamnus is a woody shrub in chaparral.; vs Calochortus: Sidalcea is a dicot with 5-petaled flowers; Calochortus is a monocot with 3-petaled flowers from bulbs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella bloom?
Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella grow?
Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella occurs in Shasta, Tulare, Placer, Modoc, Nevada, Butte, Calaveras, Madera and other counties, at elevations of (100)200-900(1800) m.
What plant family does Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella belong to?
Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
What habitat does Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella grow in?
Sidalcea asprella subsp. asprella grows in Open woodland, dry rocky slopes, foothill woodland, lower conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana — Dwarf sierran checkerbloom
- Sidalcea calycosa — Vernal pool checkerbloom
- Sidalcea calycosa subsp. calycosa — Vernal pool checkerbloom
- Sidalcea calycosa subsp. rhizomata — Point reyes checkerbloom
- Sidalcea celata — Redding checkerbloom
- Sidalcea covillei — Owens valley checkerbloom
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.