Oregon checkermallow (Sidalcea oregana) is a wonderful native plant choice for any landscape, water feature or meadowscape. It can also be used for erosion control or aid in riparian restoration. Checkermallow is a moderately fast growing, upright perennial with tall spikes of light to deep rose-pink flowers. Flowers bloom on terminal spikes that can grow up to 5 feet tall and will bloom anytime from May to September. The inflorescence is a dense or open spikelike raceme of many flowers. Each flower has five pink petals up to one inch long. It has a hairy stem with leaves located low on stem, basal or on long petioles. Blades are usually deeply divided into lobes.

Checkermallow will grow in full sun to part shade and are usually found in moist habitat types, such as marshes and meadows. Plant in an open area with well draining soil as they can be affected by rust and leaf spot, if too wet. Sow seeds directly into the soil in late fall to ensure they get the 60-90 days of cold stratification required to germinate.

Checkermallow are also great in a pollinator garden! They appeal to many kinds of pollinators including native bees and butterflies and are the larval host plant for West Coast lady, a North American species of brush-footed butterfly.

Sidalcea oregano has a range spanning from British Columbia down to California, and out east to Utah. Native to the open meadows of Southern Oregon and east of the Cascades, you can also find Oregon checkermallow growing in grasslands, sagebrush plains and Ponderosa forest.