Many historically common plants that once proliferated in the Willamette Valley are now refugees in a last ditch stand for survival. Literally, they have been driven into the unmanaged roadsides and drainage ditches of the countryside. Their decline is directly related to the changing land management activities of humans inhabiting the region. Prior to European settlement, the countryside was burned regularly as an agricultural practice by Native Americans to increase yields of important food supplies. Many of the species that thrived under fire management are not surviving under present land management methods, such as cultivating, herbicides, or mowing at the wrong time in their growth cycle. These fire-adapted plants are also succumbing to shade whether through natural succession or tree planting for conversion to forestry use. Many of these plants are important sources of food and shelter for other natural life and some are host plants necessary to the survival of certain species of butterflies, insects and micro organisms. One of these plants is Nelson's checkermallow , a beautiful flowering plant that is non-invasive and easy to propagate. It grows to three feet high with spikes of rose pink flowers, which provide an attractive display in late spring. This unique species is found only in the Willamette Valley and adjacent Coast Range and is now on the endangered species list. Most of the habitat for the valley native plant communities is on private property and landowner involvement is essential to the re-establishment of this rare and beautiful plant. Landowners that may want to provide a recovery sites for Nelson's checkermallow are needed now. Sites must be in the Yamhill River Basin and below 1000 ft elevation.
Field visits to view a Nelson's Checker-mallow in a restoration site can be arranged at the Gahr Farm in McMinnville, Oregon. For more information, please contact:  ted@gahrfarm.com
Nelson's checkermallow