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Checkerbloom Wikimedia Commons
Malvaceae

Checkerbloom

Sidalcea malviflora

Western wild spirit.

Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Sidalcea
Native to
Western United States
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
perennial herb
Height
1-3 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
moist, well-drained
Water
moderate
Hardiness
5-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Checkerbloom is sometimes called 'wild hollyhock' because its flowers closely resemble miniature hollyhocks.
  • The genus name Sidalcea is a blend of Sida and Alcea, two related mallow genera it resembles.
  • Native Americans in California used checkerbloom roots as a food source and medicinal plant.
  • The flowers are gynodioecious, meaning individual plants are either female or hermaphrodite — a rare trait in flowering plants.
  • Checkerbloom is a keystone species in Pacific coastal prairies, supporting specialized native bee communities.

Color meanings

0

grace

1

natural beauty

Uses

  • native plant gardens
  • wildflower meadows
  • cut flowers