Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa
Woolly chaparral pea, Woolly Chaparral Pea
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa (Woolly chaparral pea) is a native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by 2 sympatric varieties; CNPS 4.3; differentiated by abundant fruit production and southern California distribution.
Woolly chaparral pea is a California native shrub found in southern California's Transverse Ranges and Peninsula Ranges in chaparral and washes at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces pale pink to magenta flowers with distinctive silky-hairy surfaces. Growing with dense, compact branches 1 to 2 meters tall, it forms a robust, woody shrub with a grayish-green appearance. Its leaves are pinnately compound with 3 to 5 leaflets, each densely covered in soft, woolly hairs that give the plant its distinctive tomentose texture. The plant produces abundant fruits, creating dense clusters of seed pods characteristic of its pea family lineage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric varieties; CNPS 4.3; differentiated by abundant fruit production and southern California distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, washes
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Napa
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Lathyrus: Pickeringia is a dense woody shrub; sweet pea is a climbing vine with tendrils.; vs Ceanothus: Pickeringia has large pea-shaped flowers; ceanothus has tiny flowers in dense puffy clusters.; vs Polygala: Pickeringia has typical pea flowers; milkwort has flowers with wing-like sepals and fringed petals.; vs Acmispon: Pickeringia is a large woody shrub with spines; deerweed is small and herbaceous without spines.; vs Salvia: Pickeringia has pea flowers; sage has tubular two-lipped flowers and aromatic square stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa native to California?
Yes. Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa bloom?
Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa grow?
Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Napa, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa belong to?
Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa is in the Fabaceae family, genus Pickeringia.
Is Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa rare or endangered?
Pickeringia montana var. tomentosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.