Carried by 0 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Lathyrus polyphyllus is a species of wild pea known by the common name leafy pea. It is native to the western United States from Washington to northern California, where it grows in forest and other habitat. This is a perennial herb with long leaves each made up of many pairs of oval-shaped leaflets a few centimeters long. The leaf also has tendrils which may be long, branched and coiled, or just a short bristle. The stipules are large as well, often over a centimeter wide. The plant produces an inflorescence of up to 12 pea flowers usually arranged in a line along one side of the stem. The flowers are up to 2 centimeters wide and are a variety of shades of purple. The fruit is a dehiscent legume pod containing peas.
Perennial herb
3 ft Tall
Upright
Moderate
Red, Pink, Purple
Spring
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.
Coastal Prairie, Douglas-Fir Forest, North Coastal Coniferous Forest, Yellow Pine Forest
Butterflies and moths supported
1 confirmed and 21 likely
Western Tailed-Blue
Cupido amyntula
Cerulean Looper Moth
Caenurgina caerulea
Tobacco Budworm Moth
Chloridea virescens