Sidalcea elegans
Del norte checkerbloom, Del Norte Checkerbloom
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 3.3
Sidalcea elegans (Del norte checkerbloom) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by brittle stems and glaucous leaves.
Del norte checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 3.3) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in open dry woodland, generally on serpentine sites at elevations of 100 to 200 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces soft pink to lavender flowers 20 to 25 millimeters long in an open, one-sided inflorescence with 5 to 10 blooms. Growing 20 to 60 centimeters tall with a woody taproot and slender, brittle stems that are nearly hairless and glaucous, it develops freely rooting rhizomes up to 30 centimeters long. Its mostly basal leaves are sparsely hairy, deeply lobed with 5 to 7 segments, and range from 1 to 10 centimeters wide, with upper leaves becoming progressively more reduced. The fruit segments are glandular and slightly stellate-puberulent with a short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species - distinguished by brittle stems and glaucous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open dry woodland, generally serpentine
Elevation: 100-200(900) m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Sidalcea elegans blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 3.3
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 elegans native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea elegans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea elegans bloom?
Sidalcea elegans blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Sidalcea elegans belong to?
Sidalcea elegans is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Is Sidalcea elegans rare or endangered?
Sidalcea elegans carries California Rare Plant Rank 3.3, state rank S2?.
What habitat does Sidalcea elegans grow in?
Sidalcea elegans grows in Open dry woodland, generally serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.