About Sidalcea malviflora (DC.) A.Gray ex Benth.
Sidalcea malviflora (DC.) A.Gray ex Benth. is a species with quite variable appearance, and it has many subspecies. In general, this species is a perennial herb that grows from a woody caudex and rhizome. Its stems reach a maximum height of around 60 centimeters. The plant has a texture ranging from sparsely to densely hairy. Leaf blades are variable in shape, but are often deeply divided into several lobes. The inflorescence is an arrangement of several flowers that can be dense or loose. Each flower has five petals in shades from bright to dark pink, often marked with white veining, and petals measure from one centimeter to over three centimeters in length. Sidalcea malviflora is native to the West Coast of the United States, ranging from Washington to California, and extends into northwestern Baja California. It is a common plant found in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and a variety of other habitat types. Ecologically, this species acts as a larval host for the West Coast lady butterfly. Sidalcea malviflora is cultivated as an ornamental plant, used in traditional gardens, native plant gardens, water-conserving gardens, and wildlife gardens. Cultivars have been selected for specific flower color and plant size characteristics. The known cultivars are: Sidalcea malviflora 'Little Princess'; Sidalcea malviflora 'Palustre' — Palustre Checkerbloom — which is more compact and produces heavier blooms; Sidalcea malviflora 'Party Girl'; and Sidalcea malviflora 'Rosanna' — Rosanna Checker Mallow.
