Arctotheca prostrata

Prostrate capeweed, Prostrate Capeweed

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Prostrate capeweed is a naturalized perennial found in coastal areas of California, including the North, Central, and Southern Coast bioregions in disturbed areas and escaped cultivation sites at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with heads 4 to 7 centimeters wide, featuring 16 to 25 rays that are 3 to 5.5 millimeters wide. Growing with a low-spreading habit, it forms persistent rosette leaves that create dense ground cover. Its rosette leaves are distinctive, forming a compact ground-hugging pattern that allows the plant to spread easily across disturbed landscapes. The flower heads display a uniform bright yellow color, with rays that may have reddish or purplish tints toward their edges.

Habitat: Escape from cultivation, disturbed areas

Bloom period: All year

Elevation: < 400 m

Bioregions: NCo, CCo, SCo

California counties: Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Marin, San Francisco, Humboldt, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Monterey

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.