Lathyrus littoralis
Beach pea
(c) blmcalifornia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Lathyrus littoralis (Beach pea) is a native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by densely gray-hairy habit and immediate coastal dune habitat diagnostic.
Beach pea is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and northern and central Coast Counties on open coastal dunes at elevations near sea level. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces two-colored pink-purple and white flowers approximately 15 to 18 millimeters long in dense clusters of 4 to 8 blooms. Growing with prostrate or ascending stems that are distinctively angled or flanged, it spreads close to the ground with a delicate structure. Its leaves feature 4 to 8 obovate to short-oblong leaflets 1 to 2 centimeters long, accompanied by distinctive bristle-like tendrils. The fruit is elliptic to oblong and covered in gray hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; densely gray-hairy habit and immediate coastal dune habitat diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open coastal dunes
Elevation: < +- 5 m
California counties: Humboldt, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Monterey, Del Norte
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Lathyrus littoralis blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Vicia: Lathyrus style is flattened with hairs on top only; Vicia style is round and hairy all around.; vs Pickeringia: Lathyrus has tendrils and compound leaves; Pickeringia is a spiny shrub with simple leaves.; vs Pisum: Lathyrus has small normal stipules; Pisum has giant leafy stipules larger than leaflets.; vs Lupinus: Lathyrus has two leaflets and tendrils; Lupinus has palmate leaves with no tendrils.; vs Hosackia: Lathyrus has exactly two leaflets and tendrils; Hosackia has 3-9 leaflets with no tendrils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lathyrus littoralis native to California?
Yes. Lathyrus littoralis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lathyrus littoralis bloom?
Lathyrus littoralis blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Lathyrus littoralis grow?
Lathyrus littoralis occurs in Humboldt, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < +- 5 m.
What plant family does Lathyrus littoralis belong to?
Lathyrus littoralis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
What habitat does Lathyrus littoralis grow in?
Lathyrus littoralis grows in Open coastal dunes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.