Leaves 3-4, 4-35 cm; blade strongly keeled, ± glaucous. Scape self-supporting, with occasional bends, 30-80(-90) cm, ± scabrous. Inflorescences racemose, very dense, 6-15-flowered; bracts pale purple to green, widely lanceolate, 6-12 mm. Flowers horizontal or erect; perianth bluish purple, tube unangled, narrowly ovoid, slightly constricted above ovary, 8-10 mm, lobes ascending, 8-10 mm; perianth appendages 1 per stamen, each coalescent to an inner and outer tepal, leaning away from inner anthers to form corona, erect, purplish, narrowly lanceolate, 5-6 mm, apex deeply 2-fid into 2 wings; stamens 3, equal; anthers 4-5 mm; ovary sessile, 4-6 mm; style 5-6 mm; pedicel 1-6 mm. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering spring (late Mar--May). Open woodlands, grasslands near coast; 0--2000 m; Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Dichelostemma congestum can be recognized by its congested racemose inflorescence and deeply bifid perianth appendages that stand away from the anthers to form a corona.