Sidalcea pedata
Bird-foot checkerbloom
(c) Melanie J. Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Sidalcea pedata (Bird-foot checkerbloom) is a native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by distinctive deeply dissected leaves and dark flowers.
Bird-foot checkerbloom is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the Bear Valley and Bluff Lake areas of the Transverse Ranges in moist meadows within open woodland at elevations of 1,520 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces dark rose-pink flowers with prominent dark veins, typically 9 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with multiple stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall, these plants are characterized by long bristly stems with stellate hairs near the base. Its distinctive leaves are deeply lobed with ternate-dissected blades, featuring linear to elliptic segments that become narrower in the upper leaves. The plant emerges from a fleshy taproot and produces an inflorescence that becomes dense and spike-like, reaching up to 25 centimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinctive deeply dissected leaves and dark flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows in open woodland
Elevation: 1520-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Sierra, Placer, Ventura
Bloom period
Sidalcea pedata blooms May-Aug.
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 pedata native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea pedata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea pedata bloom?
Sidalcea pedata blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Sidalcea pedata grow?
Sidalcea pedata occurs in San Bernardino, Sierra, Placer, Ventura, at elevations of 1520-2500 m.
What plant family does Sidalcea pedata belong to?
Sidalcea pedata is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
Is Sidalcea pedata rare or endangered?
Sidalcea pedata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, 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.