Leaves: basal leaves usually present at anthesis; basal and proximal cauline leaf blades usually cleft more than 4/5 radius of blade. Leaf blade: ultimate lobes 3-5, width usually less than 15 mm. Inflorescences: pedicel usually glabrous. Flowers: lateral sepals 9-20 mm, spurs 10-15 mm; lower petal blades 4-6 mm; hairs asymmetrically distributed. 2 n = 16.

Flowering spring. Grasslands, open woods; 80-1100 m; Calif.

Delphinium patens subsp. patens hybridizes with D . decorum (see discussion under D . decorum ), D . nudicaule , and D . variegatum . Plants of D . patens subsp. patens have been confused with D . decorum , D . gracilentum , and D . nuttallianum . See discussions under those species for distinguishing features.