It is native to the mountains of northern California and Oregon, where it grows in forest and woodland.

Lathyrus sulphureus is a hairless perennial herb with leaves made up of many oval-shaped leaflets each up to 4 centimeters long.

The leaves are tipped with branching, coiled tendrils and the large stipules may be over 2 centimeters long.

The plant produces a dense inflorescence of up to 15 pea flowers which are often arranged in a line down one side of the stem.

The flowers are light yellow to deep orange and darken as they age.