Stems puberulent most of length. Leaf blades abaxially and marginally puberulent. Inflorescences puberulent. Flowers: sepals erect, lavender, densely puberulent, lateral sepals 7-11 mm, spurs 7-14 mm; upper petals with simple, nearly apical hairs. 2 n = 16.

Flowering late spring. Generally coastward slopes in dense coastal chaparral, often within sight of Pacific Ocean; 0-1000 m; Calif.

Delphinium californicum subsp. californicum is locally common, but populations tend to be scattered and often are in areas subject to human encroachment. A general trend of increased density and length of pubescence, correlated with increased frequency and density of coastal fog, is apparent. Specimens called D . californicum forma longipilis Ewan are so named for their abundance of pubescence; they grow in areas of abundant fog. This subspecies has formed garden hybrids with D . cardinale .