Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora) is in the Mallow and Hibiscus Family family (Malvaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,961 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Checkerbloom: observations by month (U.S.)
About Checkerbloom
Sidalcea malviflora is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, known by the common names dwarf checkerbloom, Greek mallow, prairie mallow and dwarf checkermallow.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Checkerbloom by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,961 | April | Mar–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mallow and Hibiscus Family)
Swamp Rose Mallow
Turk's cap
Apricot Globemallow
Cretan mallow
Southern Coastal Bushmallow
Common Hibiscus
Cheeseweed Mallow
Pineland Hibiscus
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Checkerbloom?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Checkerbloom most often seen?
The most observations come from California.