Gerbie Plan

Prairie Mallow

Sidalcea

A genus of highly underrated landscape perennials, native to North America.
The tender leaves can be cooked as a pot herb or eaten raw.

* photos of unknown internet source


Sidalcea candida
A rhizome spreading perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 feet x 20 inches, that is native from Utah to Wyoming; south to New Mexico.
The 7-lobed, rounded leaves, up to 8 inches across, are glossy green.
The white flowers are borne during early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, acidic, well drained soil.

Sidalcea hendersonii ( Hendersons Checkerbloom )
A perennial, reaching up to 5.5 feet, that is native from coastal Alaska to Oregon.

Sidalcea x hybrida
The flowers are up to 3 inches across. The erect flower spikes resemble that of the Hollyhocks. The will often rebloom if the first flush of flower spikes are removed as the flowers fade.
The deeply-toothed leaves form a basal clump.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, acidic, well drained soil. Prefers climates where summers are not excessively hot and good winter drainage is a must. It can tolerate harsh climates including that of Calgary, Alberta if planted on a protected site.
Cut plants down to 1 foot in height quickly after blooming ends. Propagation is usually done by sowing seed upon ripening which germinates easily. Older clumps can be divided during early spring or early autumn.

Brilliant
Reaches a maximum size of 2.5 x 2.5 feet, with deep rose-pink flowers borne on spikes during mid to late summer.

Croftway Red
Red flowers.

Elsie Heugh
Reaches a maximum size of 5 x 3.5 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, with fringed, pale pink flowers borne on an erect stalk.

Loveliness
Pale pink flowers

Mr. Lindburgh
Reaches a maximum size of 4 x 3.5 feet, with rose-red flowers borne on spikes during mid to late summer.

Partygirl
Reaches a maximum size of 3.5 x 3.5 feet, with very profuse, deep rose-red flowers borne on spikes during mid summer to early autumn.

Rosanna
Reaches a maximum size of 4 x 3.5 feet, with very profuse, rosy-red flowers borne on spikes during mid summer to early autumn.

Rose Queen
Reaches a maximum height of 4 feet, with rose-pink flowers.

Starks Variety
Reaches a maximum size of 5 x 3.5 feet, with rosy-red flowers borne on spikes all summer long.

Sidalcea malviflora
An erect stemmed, clumping perennial, reaching up to 40 x 30 inches, that is native from Oregon to the Baja Peninsula.
The shallowly-toothed, 7 or 9 lobed leaves are up to 2 inches in length.
The pink to lavender flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne spring through fall.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun to partial shade.

Sidalcea neomexicana ( Salt Spring Checkerbloom )
A perennial, reaching up to 4.5 feet, that is native form eastern Oregon to western Nebraska; south to southern California to New Mexico.

* photo taken by Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Young @ USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora

Sidalcea oregana ( Oregon Checkerbloom )
A perennial, reaching up to 6 x 2 feet, that is native to the western U.S. from Wash. State to Idaho; south to California to Utah.
The leaves are deeply lobed on the upper stems, more shallowly lobed on the lower stem.
The flowers, borne during summer on upright spikes, are in varying shades of pink.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on well drained soil. It can be propagated either by seed or division.

* photo taken by William & Wilma Follette @ USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora