Lathyrus vestitus
Bolander's pea
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Lathyrus vestitus (Bolander's pea) is a native California vine in the Fabaceae family.
Bolander's pea is a California native perennial found in coastal and northern California mountain ranges in chaparral and woodland habitats. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces purple to pink flowers in dense clusters of 8 to 15 blossoms. Growing with slender, sharply angled stems up to 1 meter tall, it features distinctive branched tendrils that coil elegantly. Its compound leaves have 8 to 12 narrow leaflets ranging from 2 to 4.5 centimeters long, with delicate stipules that have wavy margins. The plant's banner petals are uniquely bent or reflexed nearly 90 degrees, creating an unusual and eye-catching flower structure.
Habitat and range
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Sonoma, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Orange, Kern, Santa Barbara, Mendocino, Monterey, San Bernardino, Shasta, Solano, Butte, El Dorado, Santa Cruz, Marin, Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Benito, Humboldt, Del Norte, Lake, Siskiyou, San Francisco, San Mateo, Yolo, Colusa, Trinity
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 vestitus native to California?
Yes. Lathyrus vestitus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Lathyrus vestitus grow?
Lathyrus vestitus occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Sonoma, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Orange, Kern and other counties.
What plant family does Lathyrus vestitus belong to?
Lathyrus vestitus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
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.