Mineral Wildflower Festival

Technical Name

• Sidalcea oregana (frequently represented in this specific mountain region by Sidalcea oregana ssp. spicata)

Informal Names

• Oregon checkermallow

• Spicate checkermallow

• Oregon checkerbloom

• Wild hollyhock

Key Characteristics

• The Flower Spike: Features an elongated, narrow, spike-like terminal cluster (raceme) of crowded, miniature, hollyhock-like blossoms that range from soft rose-pink to vibrant magenta-pink.

• Dynamic Foliage: Shows two distinctly different types of leaves on the same plant. The lower basal leaves are rounded and shallowly scalloped, while the leaves higher up the stem are deeply divided into narrow, finger-like segments.

• Growth Habit: A stately, upright, multi-stemmed perennial herb covered in fine, bristly hairs. It typically rises straight through meadow grasses to a height of 1.5 to 3 feet.

Notable Significance

• Meadow Indicator Species: Its presence indicates a healthy, intact montane wetland or damp meadow ecosystem with stable seasonal hydrology.

• Pollinator Nursery: It is a vital resource for high-elevation insect life, serving as an important nectar source for native bumblebees and butterflies, as well as a primary larval host plant for several species of skipper butterflies.

• Resilient Root System: Spreads and stabilizes itself via a sturdy, woody caudex and tough taproot, allowing it to withstand heavy winter snowpacks and bounce back vigorously each spring.

Locations Found

• Habitat: Thrives near water in high-sun or dappled-shade environments. It is commonly found in moist mountain meadows, marshy clearings, along stream banks, and in roadside ditches that trap mountain snowmelt.

• Elevation Range: Well-adapted to montane and subalpine zones, flourishing at elevations between 3,000 and 7,500 feet throughout the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges, making it a frequent sight in the wet meadows surrounding Mineral and Lassen Volcanic National Park.