Native to sunny meadows and dappled shade of open woodlands in the Willamette Valley, meadow checkermallow created a gorgeous display of light pink blossoms up to 6 feet tall.  In the shade it may topple over without support, but in the sun, this plant makes a nice fountain shape.  It attracts all manner of native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with its hollyhock-like flowers.  It likes moist soil, though it can go without irrigation in summer if it’s in a shady spot. The leaves and flowers are edible, but they have a few more hairs and are less palatable than Henderson’s checkermallow. Read more

Henderson’s checkermallow is commonly found along the Washington coast, but a few populations grow further south here along the Oregon coast.  In the hollyhock family, this perennial grows up to four feet tall.  Unlike the rosy checkermallow, it doesn’t spread very quickly, staying nicely contained in a fountain-shaped clump in the garden.  The dense pink flowering spikes attract loads of butterflies and bees. Because it’s accustomed to plenty of water along the coast, it prefers moist soil in summer along with full sun to part shade. Leaves and flowers are a choice edible. We sell them to several gourmet restaurants in town. Read more

We love this late spring blooming native wildflower that we often find on the edges of meadows. In the hollyhock family, this perennial grows only about a foot to two feet tall at most. It sends up pink flowering spikes that attract butterflies and delight the eye. It will spread slowly underground by rhizomes, creating a nice small patch in a garden setting. It prefers full sun to part shade and tolerates most soil conditions. Leaves and flowers are edible and tasty, raw or cooked.  Rose checkermallow is more drought tolerant than Henderson’s checkermallow, but the leaves have a few more rough hairs. Read more