Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea
Purple-stemmed checkerbloom, Purple-Stemmed 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. purpurea (Purple-stemmed checkerbloom) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by distinctive purple coloration.
Purple-stemmed checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central and northern coastal California, including northern Sonoma and southern Mendocino counties and San Mateo County, in meadows, open coastal forests, and prairies at elevations of 0 to 30 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces bright pink-rose flowers with white veins, 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, set against a distinctively purple-tinged calyx. Growing 20 to 60 centimeters tall with decumbent stems that are glabrous to sparsely bristly, it has a distinctive purple coloration especially at the stem base and stipules. Its leaf blades are 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide, short-bristly, with lower leaves typically unlobed and coarsely crenate. The fruit segments are 3 to 3.5 millimeters long with a coarsely net-veined and pitted surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; distinctive purple coloration is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, open coastal forest, prairie
Elevation: generally 0-30 m
California counties: Sonoma, Mendocino, San Mateo, Marin
Bloom period
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea blooms May-Jun.
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. purpurea native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea bloom?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea grow?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea occurs in Sonoma, Mendocino, San Mateo, Marin, at elevations of generally 0-30 m.
What plant family does Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea belong to?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Is Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea rare or endangered?
Sidalcea malviflora subsp. purpurea carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.