Pisum sativum

Common pea

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Not Native

Common pea is a naturalized annual found in coastal and central California regions, including the North Coast, North Coast Ranges, Central Valley, coastal Southern California, and Peninsular Ranges, typically in disturbed areas at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces white, pink, or purple flowers 10 to 25 millimeters long, often displaying multiple colors within a single flower cluster. Growing with often climbing stems, it develops a flexible growth habit that can reach substantial lengths in suitable conditions. Its compound leaves feature distinctive stipules with toothed or wavy margins, and leaflets that are ovate or elliptic, measuring 2 to 4 centimeters long. The plant's adaptable nature allows it to thrive in various disturbed habitats, making it a resilient introduced species in California landscapes.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Feb-May

Elevation: < 1000 m

Bioregions: NCo, NCoRO, GV, SCoRO, SCo, PR, expected elsewhere

California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Yuba, Sacramento, Butte, Colusa, Humboldt, Sonoma, San Mateo, Sierra, San Diego, Yolo, Solano, Sutter, Fresno

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.