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Sidalcea malviflora

Common name:	Checkerbloom	Family:	Malvaceae
Author:	(DC.)A.Gray. ex Benth.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	South-western N. America - Oregon to Baja California.
Habitat:	Grassy slopes and open forest glades[200].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	3	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	S. malvaeflora[,Sngs] Sida malviflora[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Checker Mallow [S], Dwarf Checker-mallow [B], Dwarf Checkermallow [P], Mallow, Checker [S],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	flora = flowered
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Malvales. Mallow family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.8m. It is hardy to zone 6. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Leaves - raw or cooked. The leaves have a very mild flavour and a slightly mucilaginous texture, they make a very acceptable salad[K]. The leaves can be cooked as greens[257]. The dried mashed leaves have been used as a flavouring with black manzanita berries (Arctostaphyllos spp)[257].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a deep fertile well-drained but moisture-retentive soil in full sun or with some shade at the hottest part of the day[200].
This species thrives in climates with a relatively cool summer and mild winters and tolerates temperatures down to about -15° c[200]. However, where prolonged cold temperatures are experienced without snow cover, it is best to mulch the plants well in winter with material such as bracken litter[200].
If the plants are cut back immediately after flowering they will usually produce a second flush of bloom in late summer[200]. The flowers last well when they are cut for indoor use[200].
There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in the spring.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Sidalcea malvaeflora (a possible synonym).

[S] Illustration from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine

References for the family Malvaceae.

[CHINA] Draft Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Sidalcea+malviflora
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