Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest from Grays Harbor, Thurston, and Pierce counties south, and east in the Columbia River Gorge to Benton County in Washington; Washington to Willamette Valley in Oregon.
Habitat: Gravelly outwash prairies and basaltic cliffs.
Flowers: May-June
Origin: Native
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Crisp-puberulent, eglandular perennial from small, globose, fleshy roots, the single stems 3-6 dm. tall.
Leaves long-petiolate, evenly distributed, the blades up to 10 cm. broad, 3-4 times dissected into narrowly lanceolate or linear segments.
Inflorescence simple to compound, the racemes spike-like above, the lower pedicels exceeding the numerous, crowded flowers; sepals 5, deep bluish-purple, 7-12 mm. long, slightly spreading, with a conspicuous median, pubescent, greenish band; spur equal to the sepals; petals 4, small, the lower pair deep purplish-blue, shallowly cleft, the upper pair light blue; stamens numerous; pistils 3.
Follicles about 15 mm. long, slightly bent.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Delphinium nuttallii in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Delphinium nuttallii checklist entry.
E-Flora BC: Delphinium nuttallii atlas page.
CalPhotos: Delphinium nuttallii photos.
USDA Plants: Delphinium nuttallii information.