Chaparral Pea (Pickeringia montana) is monotypic species within the genus Pickeringia. It is a native evergreen shrub found within mature, mixed chaparral vegetation communities. The plant spreads mainly by sprouting rhizomes and damaged plants can sprout from the roots or root crowns. Having evolved in a fire-dominant community, following a brushland fire this plant repopulates into the initial plant community by seedling establishment and root and crown sprouts.
The flower is a brilliant pink "pea-type" flower (the "Beauty") but the plant is adorned with sharp spike-like thorns (the "Beast"). Chaparral Pea browse is rated as excellent to good for black-tailed deer and they carefully pick out leaves and flowers from within the thorny stems. Protein levels are notably higher than most other chaparral plants, and can reach as high as 19% on new growth in early spring. The plant is endemic to California where it is distributed from the Santa Monica Mountains in the south to Mendocino County brushlands in the north, and is rather common at the UC-Hopland Research & Extension Center.
