Sidalcea malviflora is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, known by the common names dwarf checkerbloom, Greek mallow, prairie mallow and dwarf checkermallow. Distribution Sidalcea malviflora is native to the West Coast of the United States, from Washington to California, and into northwestern Baja California. It is a common plant of chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and other habitat types. Description Sidalcea malviflora is somewhat variable in appearance and there are many subspecies. In general it is a perennial herb growing from a woody caudex and rhizome, its stem reaching about 60 centimeters in maximum height. It is sparsely to densely hairy in texture. The leaf blades are variable in shape, but are often divided deeply into several lobes. The inflorescence is a dense or loose array of several flowers. The flower has five petals in shades of bright to dark pink, often with white veining, and measuring one to over three centimeters in length. Subspecies and endemics There are over ten subspecies, some of which are endemic and rare:. They include: Sidalcea malviflora ssp. californica — California checkerbloom. Sidalcea malviflora ssp. dolosa — endemic to the San Bernardino Mountains. Sidalcea malviflora ssp. laciniata Sidalcea malviflora ssp. laciniata var. laciniata Sidalcea malviflora ssp. laciniata var. sancta Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora — Checker mallow Sidalcea malviflora ssp. patula — Siskiyou checkerbloom — endemic to far northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. Sidalcea malviflora ssp. purpurea — Purple-stemmed checkerbloom — endemic to the California coast just north of the San Francisco Bay Area. Sidalcea malviflora ssp. rostrata Sidalcea malviflora ssp. virgata — Dwarf checkerbloom Cultivation Sidalcea malviflora is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use in traditional, native plant, water conserving, and wildlife gardens. Cultivars have been selected for flower colors and size qualities, they include: Sidalcea malviflora 'Little Princess' Sidalcea malviflora 'Palustre' — Palustre Checkerbloom — more compact and a heavier bloom produced. Sidalcea malviflora 'Party Girl' Sidalcea malviflora 'Rosanna' — Rosanna Checker Mallow Ecology It is a larval host to the West Coast lady. See also California chaparral and woodlands California coastal sage and chaparral References External links Calflora Database: Sidalcea malviflora (Checker bloom, Wild Hollyhock, checker mallow, dwarf checkerbloom) Jepson Manual Treatment: Sidalcea malviflora USDA Plants Profile for Sidalcea malviflora Sidalcea malviflora — U.C. Photo gallery malviflora Flora of California Flora of Baja California Flora of Oregon Flora of the Cascade Range Flora of the Klamath Mountains Flora