Sidalcea neomexicana aka New Mexico Checker

Sidalcea neomexicana is a perennial in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Common names include New Mexico prairie mallow and salt spring checkerbloom. Its native range spans the western and south-central United States into northern Mexico. Records include California, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and several southwestern states. It grows in a temperate climate and is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This plant reaches about 2.6 feet [0.8 metres] in height. In the wild, it grows in wet meadows and beside streams. These sites often have strongly alkaline soil. Its recorded elevation range is about 4,920–9,350 feet [1,500–2,850 metres]. Its flowers have both male and female organs. Cutting plants back after flowering can bring another flush in late summer. The supplied species evidence gives no further flower, fruit, or leaf details.

In gardens, give it deep, fertile soil that holds moisture but drains well. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Its pH range runs from mildly acid to very alkaline. It prefers moist or wet ground rather than dry sites. A sunny spot suits it, with some shade during the hottest hours. It can also grow in light shade. Cool summers and mild winters suit it best. These needs make it an option for moist beds and bog gardens.

Plants tolerate cold down to at least 5°F [−15°C]. Long cold spells without snow cover call for winter protection. PFAF suggests a winter mulch of bracken in those conditions. Rust caused by Puccinia malvacearum can affect the plant. Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep young plants in a greenhouse through their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after expected frosts. Spring division offers another way to raise plants.

The leaves have a recorded food use as cooked greens. PFAF gives the plant a low food-use rating of one out of five. It reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety for every use. A cold infusion has a recorded traditional use for internal injuries. That record does not establish medical benefit or safe treatment. PFAF lists no other uses and does not flag weed potential.