Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis
Lake pillsbury checkerbloom, Lake Pillsbury Checkerbloom
Photo: parent species Sidalcea hickmanii · (c) Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexander Wentworth · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis (Lake pillsbury checkerbloom) is a native California perennial in the Malvaceae family, recognized by very small size and specific location.
Lake pillsbury checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Lake County in chaparral and ephemeral drainage at elevations of 700 to 750 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces pale pink flowers 8 to 9 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with several green stems densely covered in fine stellate hairs, it forms a compact plant about 10 to 20 centimeters wide. Its leaf blades are 6 to 12 millimeters long and 12 to 22 millimeters wide with coarse rounded teeth. The plant produces an open, unbranched inflorescence with generally fewer than 10 flowers, each subtended by small cupped bracts.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species - distinguished by very small size and specific location
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, ephemeral drainage
Elevation: +- 700-750 m.
Bloom period
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis blooms Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis bloom?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis blooms Jul.
What plant family does Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis belong to?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Is Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis rare or endangered?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis grow in?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. pillsburiensis grows in Chaparral, ephemeral drainage.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.