Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus
Bolander's pacific pea
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus (Bolander's pacific pea) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by northern coastal variety with white/lavender flowers in low-elevation forests.
Bolander's pacific pea is a California native perennial found in northern coastal regions including the North Coast, Klamath Ranges, and northern Coast Ranges in conifer or mixed forest at elevations generally below 150 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces lavender or white flowers about 14 to 16 millimeters long. Growing with slender climbing stems that are smooth and glabrous, it forms delicate vine-like structures through forest understories. Its leaves are composed of paired leaflets typical of pea plants, creating a graceful and intricate growth pattern. The plant's pale lavender to white blossoms provide a subtle splash of color in the cool, shaded forest environments of coastal California.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; northern coastal variety with white/lavender flowers in low-elevation forests
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer or mixed forest
Elevation: generally < 150(400) m
Bloom period
Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus 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. ochropetalus native to California?
Yes. Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus bloom?
Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus blooms Feb-Jul.
What plant family does Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus belong to?
Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lathyrus.
What habitat does Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus grow in?
Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus grows in Conifer or mixed forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.