Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by fleshy leaves and bristly stem base.
Checkcupseal is a California native perennial found in southern Northern Coast Ranges, Northern Coast Ranges, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, southern California, and northern Channel Islands in coastal prairie, scrub, and open forest at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces pink to rose flowers with white veining, 1 to 2.5 centimeters long. Growing with decumbent stems that root at the base and spread 15 to 60 centimeters tall, it has stems covered in dense, coarse stellate hairs and bristles. Its leaves are 2 to 6 centimeters wide with 7 to 9 lobes, somewhat fleshy and coarsely hairy, with upper leaves often more deeply divided. The fruit segments are 3.5 to 4 millimeters long, sparsely glandular with net-veined pitting and a short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; distinguished by fleshy leaves and bristly stem base
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal prairie, scrub, open forest
Elevation: generally < 500 m
California counties: Humboldt, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Mendocino, Alameda, Monterey, Sonoma, Calaveras, San Francisco, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Tulare, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Solano, Orange, Santa Barbara, Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Ventura
Bloom period
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora blooms Mar-Jul.
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 subsp. malviflora native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora bloom?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora grow?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora occurs in Humboldt, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Mendocino, Alameda, Monterey, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of generally < 500 m.
What plant family does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora belong to?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
What habitat does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora grow in?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora grows in Coastal prairie, scrub, open forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula — Siskiyou checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea — Purple-stemmed checkerbloom
- Sidalcea malviflora subsp. rostrata — Seacliff checkerbloom
- Sidalcea multifida — Cut-leaf checkerbloom
- Sidalcea neomexicana — Salt spring checkerbloom
- Sidalcea oregana — Oregon checker mallow
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.