Stems 20-40 cm; base reddish or not, glabrous, glaucous. Leaves: distribution variable; basal leaves 0-4 at anthesis; cauline leaves 3-6 at anthesis; petiole 1-17 cm. Leaf blade round, 2-4 × 3-7 cm, not succulent, glabrous; ultimate lobes 7-15, width 3-10 mm (basal), 2-7 mm (cauline). Inflorescences 5-12-flowered; pedicel 1-5(-10) cm, nearly glabrous to glandular-puberulent; bracteoles 2-10(-20) mm from flowers, green, linear, 3-8 mm, puberulent. Flowers: sepals dark blue, nearly glabrous, lateral sepals spreading, 14-22 × 6-10 mm, spurs ± straight, orientation varies from 30° above to 30° below horizontal, 16-20 mm; lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± covering stamens, 6-9 mm, clefts 2-4 mm; hairs local, densest on inner lobes near base of cleft, white to light yellow. Fruits 12-17 mm, 2.5-3 times longer than wide, glabrous. Seeds ± wing-margined; seed coat cells with surfaces smooth.

Flowering summer. Steep rocky subalpine to alpine slopes; 1500-2800 m; B.C.; Oreg., Wash.

See discussion under Delphinium bicolor .