How to Grow and Care for Rupertia

Rupertia physodes, or forest scurfpea as it is commonly called, is native to western North America, including the coastal mountains and west coast of California, as well as Idaho and British Columbia. Each flower can have up to 40 petals. It is also called California tea.

Parish's california tea is a resilient, perennial herbaceous plant known for its stiff, upright stems. Its tough structure enables survival in rugged terrains, often in areas with poor soil. The leaves, typically grey-green, are pinnate with multiple leaflets, affording a feathery appearance. During favorable seasons, it showcases small but vibrant pea-like flowers that attract pollinators, crucial for its reproductive success.