Meadow Checkerbloom
Sidalcea campestris
- Native to:
- United States
Amy Bartow, NRCS Corvallis PMC
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Sidalcea
- Species:
- Sidalcea campestris
- USDA Symbol:
- SICA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to moist meadows and open woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination rates. Seeds benefit from cold stratification and may germinate erratically.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds were scarified using a small oat dehuller lined with 320 grit sandpaper, then sown into cone-tainers filled with Sunshine #1 (a soil-less peat-based media) amended with micro-nutrients (Micromax) and a slow release fertilizer (Osmocote 14-14-14).
Source: npn.rngr.net