Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis
Marin checkerbloom, Marin Checkerbloom
(c) Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexander Wentworth · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis (Marin checkerbloom) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by specific location and habitat.
Marin checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in northern San Francisco Bay region, specifically in Marin County on Carson Ridge, inhabiting dry coastal ridges and serpentine landscapes at elevations of 50 to 400 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale pink to lavender flowers in clusters with multiple blooms, typically more than 10 per inflorescence. Growing to less than 30 centimeters tall with several stems that are reddish near the base and sparsely covered in stellate hairs, the plant has an delicate, open structure. Its leaves are broadly shaped, 1 to 2.5 centimeters long and 2 to 4 centimeters wide, with coarse rounded teeth or shallow lobes that give the foliage a distinctive scalloped appearance. The flower petals range from 1.1 to 1.4 centimeters long, with calyx lobes featuring faint veining and evenly distributed hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species - distinguished by specific location and habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry ridges near coast, serpentine
Elevation: 50-400 m
Bloom period
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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. viridis native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis bloom?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis belong to?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Is Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis rare or endangered?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank SH.
What habitat does Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis grow in?
Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. viridis grows in dry ridges near coast, 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.