Stems 40-80(-180) cm, base simple- and/or long-puberulent. Leaves mainly cauline; basal leaves usually absent at anthesis; cauline leaves 3 or more, gradually smaller than basal leaves. Inflorescences (2-)6-11 flowers per 5 cm, dense or less commonly open. Flowers: sepals dark blue-purple to white or pink, lateral sepals 7-10(-13) mm, spurs 8-13 mm. 2 n = 16, 32.

Flowering spring(-early summer). Open oak woods, grasslands; 100-3000 m; Calif.

Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii produces natural hybrids with D . gypsophilum , D . hesperium , and D . variegatum .