Oregon Checkermallow Seeds (Sidalcea oregana)

Oregon checkermallow, belongs to the margins—the slightly damp edges – the prairie draws where a trace of water flows below the surrounding wild grasses -- and to mountain basins where water collects into lush meadows. 

Its tall stems rise with quiet resolve, lined with pink blossoms that glow like a rosy dusk reflected off the clouds. In favorable growing locations, it can appear in colonies, a meter high, supported by deep taproots, collectively forming spectacular showy displays.

Once common in the inland west, Oregon checkermallow has seen its territory drained, diverted, and grazed over. What remains are fragments—known mostly to the bees, to backcountry people, to the West Coast Lady butterfly (Vanessa annabella) that uses this lovely wildflower as a caterpillar host plant.

This now uncommon plant still naturally occurs in scattered populations from British Columbia through California, from Wyoming and Montana westward to the slopes of the Cascades and California’s coastal counties. Despite its decline, and naturally scatted distribution, this Sidalcea (like all members of the genus), is actually quite easy to grow in the home garden – and is probably easily adaptable as a garden specimen in any non-desert region west of the Rockies.

 Approximately 100 seeds per packet. (0.25g).