Checkerbloom

Checkerbloom: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Upright clump about 90 cm tall and 45 cm wide, with slender, little-branched flowering stems.

Foliage

Round to kidney-shaped at the base with a lobed edge; higher up deeply divided into narrow segments, like a hand. Green.

Flower

Silky, funnel-shaped flowers 3–5 cm across in loose spikes, pink with fine veins, from June to August.

Flowering order

The flowers open at the bottom of the spike first and then higher and higher, so each spike flowers for weeks.

Roots

Fibrous, with a sturdy crown that forms a wider clump over the years.

Flowering: June–August · Plants: March–May and September · Pruning: March and July

Why grow it?

• Slender, graceful flower spikes in shades of pink from June to August, with a chance of a second flush.
• Bees and butterflies visit the flowers.
• Lovely cut flower: the spikes last well in a vase.
• Gives height and an airy effect at the back or middle of the border without taking much room.
• Undemanding on well-drained loam and clay and hardy to about −25 °C.

Checkerbloom: where does it grow best?

• Sun or light half shade; in full sun the plant needs extra water in dry summers.
• Humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil: loam or clay, acid to neutral.
• Sheltered from strong wind, because the tall spikes can snap or flop.
• Allow 40–50 cm between plants; set 3–5 together for a good effect.
• Avoid soil that stays wet in winter: the crown dies there.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Loam or clay

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.9 m tall, 0.45 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Sage: Blue-purple spikes in the same months make a lovely contrast with the pink.
• Cranesbill: A low, flowering foreground that hides the bare lower stems of the spikes.
• Phlox: Scented summer flower heads in complementary shades.
• Ornamental grasses: Light plumes that softly frame the upright spikes.

Checkerbloom: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September.

1. Plant in March–May or in September, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Work a few spadefuls of compost into the soil and lighten heavy clay with a little sand.
3. Plant at the same depth as in the pot, with the crown at soil level.
4. Space plants 40–50 cm apart and water thoroughly straight away.
5. Spread a layer of compost or leaf mould around the plant, keeping the crown itself clear.

Care

Water

Water in dry spells, in the morning at the base. A dried-out clump flowers poorly and becomes prone to rust.

Feeding

In March, a spadeful of compost or organic fertiliser around the clump.

Mulching

A layer of compost in spring keeps the soil moist and weed-free.

Support

In a windy garden, push twiggy sticks or bamboo canes in beside tall cultivars as they shoot.

Spent flowers

Cut the spikes back after the first flowering: it gives a second flush and stops the plant exhausting itself on seed.

Dividing

Divide the clump every 3–4 years, otherwise it goes bare in the middle and flowers less.

Tip: After the first flowering, cut the spent spikes back to just above the leaves and give water and a little compost: a second flush follows in August and the plant stays compact.

Checkerbloom: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July.

When: In July, straight after the first flowering, and in March before new growth.

How:

• Cut spent flower stems back in July to just above the leaves at the base.
• Then water and give a little compost: within a few weeks a second, lighter flush follows.
• In March cut all old stems and brown leaves down to just above the ground.
• For a bouquet, take only spikes whose lowest flowers are already open.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September: lift the clump, divide it into pieces with roots and shoots, and replant straight away.

Basal cuttings

In spring: cut young shoots 5–8 cm long from the base and set them in moist cutting compost. They root within a few weeks.

Checkerbloom: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy to about −25 °C: in Belgium that is rarely a problem.
• The biggest risk is wet, heavy soil in winter: ensure good drainage.
• In cold winters or on heavy soil, a thin layer of dry leaves or compost around the crown helps.

Diseases and pests

• Rust: Orange-brown pustules on the underside of the leaves, especially after a damp summer. Cut off affected leaves, do not compost them and water at the base.
• Slugs: They eat the young shoots in spring. Collect them in the evening or lay a plank to attract and catch them.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry weather. Water, allow space and cut back after flowering.
• Flopping spikes: In strong wind and rain. Add support, pick a sheltered spot and cut back after the first flowering.

Through the year

• March: Cut back old stems. Give compost. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant. Watch for slugs. Take basal cuttings.
• May: Plant. Put in supports for tall cultivars.
• June: Flowering begins. Water in dry weather.
• July: After the first flowering cut back to just above the leaves. Cut flowers.
• August: Second flowering. Water in dry weather.
• September: Plant or divide. Last flowers.
• October: Clear brown leaves. Thin layer of compost at the base.
• December: Rest.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Butterflies

Nectar for butterflies.

Did you know?

• The name Sidalcea is made up of Sida and Alcea, two related genera of the mallow family.
• Checkerbloom is related to hollyhock, mallow and hibiscus: all belong to the mallow family (Malvaceae).
• The flowers open at the bottom of the spike first, so each spike flowers from the bottom up over several weeks.