Taxon Report

Sidalcea hickmanii Greene ssp. anomala C.L. Hitchc.

Cuesta Pass checkerbloom

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. anomala, commonly known as Cuesta Pass checkerbloom, is a perennial herb in the Malvaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Closed-cone coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 600 to 800 meters. Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. anomala is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Sidalcea hickmanii Greene ssp. anomala C.L. Hitchc.
Common Name:	Cuesta Pass checkerbloom
Family:	Malvaceae
Element Code:	PDMAL110A1
USDA Plants Symbol:	SIHIA
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: May-Jun	May-Jun
Elevation:	600-800 (1970-2625)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Closed-cone coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Rocky, Serpentine
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CR
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	4
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Atascadero (3512046), San Luis Obispo (3512036)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	10
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	3	75 %
Grazing	2	50%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	50%
Development	1	25%
Erosion/runoff	1	25%
Feral pigs	1	25%
Improper burning regime	1	25%
Military operations	1	25%
Non-native plant impacts	1	25%
ORV activity	1	25%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	25%

Notes



Known from fewer than five occurrences on Cuesta Ridge in the Los Padres NF and one occurrence on Camp Roberts Military Reservation. Threatened by fuelbreak construction, recreational activities, and vehicles.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 30 September 2025].