Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula
Siskiyou checkerbloom, Siskiyou Checkerbloom
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula (Siskiyou checkerbloom) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by dense, overlapping flower arrangement.
Siskiyou checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern coastal California in open coastal forests and bluffs at elevations generally below 700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces bright pink to rose-pink flowers in compact, stiffly erect clusters. Growing 20 to 60 centimeters tall with decumbent stems that often root at the base and become bristly below, it develops a branching, somewhat hairy structure. Its distinctive leaves are large, 3 to 12 centimeters wide, with 7 to 9 lobes that are dentate and covered in coarse bristly and stellate hairs. The fruit segments are 3.5 to 4 millimeters long with a coarsely net-veined surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key feature is dense, overlapping flower arrangement
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open coastal forests, bluffs
Elevation: generally < 700 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula blooms May-Aug.
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 malviflora subsp. patula native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula bloom?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula belong to?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Is Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula rare or endangered?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula grow in?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. patula grows in Open coastal forests, bluffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Sidalcea oregana subsp. eximia — Coast checkerbloom
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.