Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii
San diego pea
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii (San diego pea) is a native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by southern California variety with hairless stems and reflexed banner.
San diego pea is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal regions, southern Channel Islands, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral habitats at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces striking wine red to dark purple flowers with banners that are generally reflexed at more than 90 degrees. Growing with slender climbing stems to moderate heights, it displays a glabrous (smooth) vegetative structure. Its leaves feature delicate compound leaflets typical of pea-like plants, supporting its climbing growth habit. The distinctive deep-colored flowers and reflexed banner make this variety a notable member of the Lathyrus genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; southern California variety with hairless stems and reflexed banner
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Orange, Tuolumne, San Francisco, San Mateo
Bloom period
Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii blooms Feb-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 vestitus var. alefeldii native to California?
Yes. Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii bloom?
Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii blooms Feb-Jul.
Where in California does Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii grow?
Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Orange, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii belong to?
Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
What habitat does Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii grow in?
Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii grows in Chaparral.
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.