Sidalcea reptans
Sierra checker mallow
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sidalcea reptans (Sierra checker mallow) is a native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by distinctive prostrate free-rooting habit.
Sierra checker mallow is a California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains in moist meadows and dry pine forest locations at elevations of 1,120 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces dark pink to lavender flowers 12 to 20 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing with prostrate stems 20 to 50 centimeters long that root freely and have dense long bristly hairs, particularly on the lower mid-stem. Its lowest leaves are unlobed and deeply crenate, while upper leaves have 5 to 7 lobes, with blades 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide and varying from bristly to nearly smooth. The fruit segments are approximately 3 millimeters long with deeply net-veined and pitted surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinctive prostrate free-rooting habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows, dry places in pine forest
Elevation: 1120-2000 m
California counties: Mariposa, Tuolumne, Fresno, Amador, Tulare, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Nevada, Madera, Alpine, Placer
Bloom period
Sidalcea reptans blooms Jun-Aug.
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 reptans native to California?
Yes. Sidalcea reptans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sidalcea reptans bloom?
Sidalcea reptans blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Sidalcea reptans grow?
Sidalcea reptans occurs in Mariposa, Tuolumne, Fresno, Amador, Tulare, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1120-2000 m.
What plant family does Sidalcea reptans belong to?
Sidalcea reptans is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sidalcea.
What habitat does Sidalcea reptans grow in?
Sidalcea reptans grows in Moist meadows, dry places in pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.