Arctotheca calendula
Capeweed, Capeweed
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Arctotheca calendula (Capeweed) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key differences in head size, ray width, and leaf persistence.
Capeweed is a naturalized perennial found in coastal areas of the northern and central California Coast, occurring in disturbed habitats at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces distinctive pale yellow ray flowers with a darker yellow band, arranged in large flower heads 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter. Growing with low-spreading stems, it forms distinctive rosettes that create dense ground cover in coastal regions. Its leaves cluster in basal rosettes, becoming sparse on older plants, with ray flowers ranging from 6 to 13 in number. The fruit is densely covered in purple to brown woolly hairs, creating a distinctive textural appearance that helps distinguish this non-native species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differences in head size, ray width, and leaf persistence.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed coastal areas
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: +- suitable habitats worldwide.
Bloom period
Arctotheca calendula blooms Mar-Aug.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Gazania: Arctotheca has deeply pinnately lobed leaves; Gazania leaves are entire or barely lobed at margins.; vs Taraxacum: Arctotheca creeps along ground with white-woolly leaf undersides; Taraxacum grows in rosettes with hollow flower stalks.; vs Euryops: Arctotheca creeps along ground; Euryops grows as upright woody shrub.; vs Dimorphotheca: Arctotheca leaves are pinnately lobed; Dimorphotheca has simple toothed leaves.; vs Wyethia: Arctotheca is low mat-forming; Wyethia is tall upright perennial with large undivided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arctotheca calendula native to California?
No. Arctotheca calendula is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Arctotheca calendula bloom?
Arctotheca calendula blooms Mar-Aug.
What plant family does Arctotheca calendula belong to?
Arctotheca calendula is in the Asteraceae family, genus Arctotheca.
Is Arctotheca calendula invasive in California?
Arctotheca calendula is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Arctotheca calendula grow in?
Arctotheca calendula grows in Disturbed coastal areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.