Stems 60-100 cm; base reddish, puberulent, midstems pubescent. Leaves mostly on proximal 1/3 of stem; basal leaves (0-)2-7 at anthesis; cauline leaves 12-20 at anthesis; petiole 1-14 cm. Leaf blade dark green, at least adaxially, fan-shaped to reniform, 2-5 × 3-7 cm, pubescent, especially abaxially; ultimate lobes 5-15, width 4-15 mm (basal lobes 5-15 mm), apex abruptly tapered, usually mucronate; veins prominent. Inflorescences 20-90-flowered, dense, cylindric; pedicel ascending to spreading, 1-2 cm, puberulent; bracteoles 1-2 mm from flowers, green, linear, 4-6 mm, puberulent. Flowers: sepals dark blue to purple, puberulent, lateral sepals spreading to slightly forward pointing, 10-14 × 3-5 mm, spurs ascending 20-70° truncate or downcurved apically, 12-15 mm; lower petal blades slightly elevated, ± exposing stamens, 4-6 mm, clefts 0.5-2 mm; hairs sparse, local below junction of blade and claw, scattered on margins, white. Fruits 13-18 mm, 3-3.5 times longer than wide, puberulent. Seeds unwinged; seed coat cells with margins straight, surfaces ± roughened. 2 n = 16. Flowering summer. Heavy clay soil, dry meadows in coniferous woods; 1800-3400 m; Ariz, N.Mex. Delphinium geraniifolium is a more pubescent analog of the closely related D . scopulorum , the former occurring in heavier soils at higher elvation.