Sidalcea keckii
Keck's checkerbloom
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Sidalcea keckii (Keck's checkerbloom) is a native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by glandular hairs and sparse flowers.
Keck's checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior and central Sierra Nevada Foothills in Colusa, Napa, Solano, Yolo, Fresno, Merced, and Tulare counties, growing on grassy slopes at elevations of 75 to 650 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces dark pink flowers with prominent dark basal spots, 10 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 1.5 to 4 decimeters tall with occasionally branched stems covered in soft stellate-bristly hairs, it has a delicate and slightly fuzzy appearance. Its lower leaves are shallowly 7 to 9-lobed, while upper leaves have more defined lobes with teeth at the tips, creating a intricate leaf structure. The fruit segments are 3 to 4 millimeters long with a net-veined and pitted back, typically tinged with a pinkish hue.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species - distinguished by glandular hairs and sparse flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy slopes
Elevation: 75-650 m
California counties: Tulare, Napa, Colusa, Fresno, Kern, Lake, Glenn, Solano, Yolo
Bloom period
Sidalcea keckii blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 keckii native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea keckii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea keckii bloom?
Sidalcea keckii blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Sidalcea keckii grow?
Sidalcea keckii occurs in Tulare, Napa, Colusa, Fresno, Kern, Lake, Glenn, Solano and other counties, at elevations of 75-650 m.
What plant family does Sidalcea keckii belong to?
Sidalcea keckii is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Is Sidalcea keckii rare or endangered?
Sidalcea keckii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sidalcea malachroides — Maple-leaved checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora — Checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. californica — Chaparral checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. dolosa — Bear valley checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. laciniata — Geranium-leaved checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.