Sidalcea malviflora
Checkerbloom, checkermallow, Checkermallow
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sidalcea malviflora (Checkerbloom) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family.
Checkerbloom is a California native perennial found in coastal and mountain regions in grasslands, oak woodlands, and coastal prairie habitats. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces bright to dark pink flowers with white veining, 10 to 20 millimeters long, arranged in dense to open inflorescences. Growing 15 to 100 centimeters tall with generally hairy stems emerging from a woody rhizomatous caudex, it has a robust and spreading growth habit. Its leaves are dentate or lobed, with upper leaves much reduced and lower leaves more broadly shaped, typically showing variation in leaf structure along the stem. The fruit segments are 2.5 to 4 millimeters long, with a network of fine veins and a short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Santa Barbara, San Diego, Sonoma, Mendocino, San Francisco, Del Norte, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Mono, San Mateo, Fresno, Monterey, Marin, San Benito, Tulare, Contra Costa, Tehama, Modoc, Amador, Santa Clara, Alameda, El Dorado, Mariposa, Trinity, Nevada, Alpine, Butte, San Luis Obispo, Shasta, Lassen, Siskiyou, Plumas, Solano, Sierra, Merced, Placer, Yuba, Santa Cruz, Inyo
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 malviflora native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea malviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Sidalcea malviflora grow?
Sidalcea malviflora occurs in Santa Barbara, San Diego, Sonoma, Mendocino, San Francisco, Del Norte, Humboldt, San Bernardino and other counties.
What plant family does Sidalcea malviflora belong to?
Sidalcea malviflora is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. californica — Chaparral checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. dolosa — Bear valley checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. laciniata — Geranium-leaved checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula — Siskiyou checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea — Purple-stemmed checkerbloom
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.