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Prairie Mallow Wikimedia Commons
Malvaceae

Prairie Mallow

Sidalcea malviflora

Open prairie grace and steady warmth.

Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Sidalcea
Native to
western North America
Bloom season
Late Spring, Summer
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
60–100 cm
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, average
Water
medium
Hardiness
5–8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Often called 'miniature hollyhock' for its identical flower form on a much smaller scale.
  • The cup-shaped pink flowers are favorites of native long-tongued bees and pollinator-friendly hoverflies.
  • Coastal populations in California once carpeted huge meadows that have largely vanished to development.
  • Its name comes from combining 'Sida' and 'Alcea', two related mallow genera.
  • The flowers close in cloudy weather and reopen with the first sunshine.

Color meanings

Pink

open-hearted welcome

Lavender

gentle wildness

Uses

  • native prairie gardens
  • perennial borders
  • pollinator habitat