Pacific Pea
Lathyrus vestitus
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Charles E. Jones
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Lathyrus
- Species:
- Lathyrus vestitus
- USDA Symbol:
- LAVE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- lavender, purple, pink, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Chionodes braunella
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black-tailed bumble (Bombus melanopygus), Yellow-faced bumble (Bombus vosnesenskii) Butterflies:Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rootstock following fire. Often increases in abundance in post-fire chaparral and oak woodland communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to chaparral and coastal scrub areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat recommended before cold stratification. Soaking in warm water for 24 hours can substitute for mechanical scarification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI