Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana
Dwarf sierran checkerbloom, Dwarf Sierran Checkerbloom
Photo: parent species Sidalcea asprella · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana (Dwarf sierran checkerbloom) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by clearly distinguished by size and habitat.
Dwarf sierran checkerbloom is a California native perennial found in northwestern California (especially North Coast Ranges), the Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada in open woodlands, grassy margins, and yellow-pine/Douglas-fir forests at elevations of 460 to 1,725 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces pale to rose-pink flowers with delicate petals approximately 1.7 to 2 centimeters long in bisexual clusters. Growing 1 to 5 decimeters tall with a prostrate to erect stem densely covered in star-shaped hairs, it develops rhizomes over 10 centimeters long. Its distinctive basal leaves are heart-shaped, typically 7-lobed, and deeply divided almost to the base, with leaves measuring 20 to 23 millimeters long and 22 to 27 millimeters wide. The plant bears sparse cauline leaves with deeply lobed margins, each lobe generally featuring three-toothed tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species - clearly distinguished by size and habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open woodland, grassy margins, yellow-pine/Douglas-fir forest, generally serpentine
Elevation: 460-1725 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana blooms Jun-Aug.
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. nana native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana bloom?
Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana belong to?
Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
What habitat does Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana grow in?
Sidalcea asprella subsp. nana grows in Open woodland, grassy margins, yellow-pine/Douglas-fir forest, generally serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.