Description

One often encounters the forest scurfpea on shady trailsides. There it forms an attractive stand of dark green compound leaves, each with three dewdrop shaped leaflets. One might mistake it for one of its pea-family cousins in the genus Hoita, especially Hoita strobilina. The blooms, however, are distinct with terminal clusters of white flowers with violet highlights. The forest scurfpea is fairly common in the SF Bay Area. In Santa Clara County, explore Stevens Creek County Park for some healthy stands. The plant is common in the hills of all nine Bay Area counties. Scattered populations occur from San Diego County, through our coastal mountains then into the US Northwest and British Columbia. Forest scurfpea should be given ample shade and occasional water after establishment.