Sidalcea malviflora

RHS Plant Profile

checkerbloom

Other common names

chequerbloom, Greek mallow

Herbaceous Perennial

A slightly spreading or upright perennial to 1.2m in height, with rounded shallowly-lobed, mid-green basal leaves and deeply lobed stem leaves. Bears funnel-shaped pink or lilac-pink flowers 5cm across, in racemes in early and midsummer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Neutral or Acid

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Sidalcea can be annuals or perennials, forming a clump of rounded or palmately lobed basal leaves, with erect stems bearing more deeply divided leaves and terminal racemes of 5-petalled mallow-like flowers
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich moist but well-drained light, sandy neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in autumn or spring, or propagate by division in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back stems hard after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slug damage

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust