Arctotheca calendula

Photo: Joseph DiTomaso

Synonyms: Arctotheca calendulacea (R. Br.) Lewin, Arctotis calendula L.; Cryptostemma calendulaceum (L.) R.Br

Common names: fertile capeweed

Arctotheca calendula (fertile capeweed) is a rosette-forming plant (family Asteraceae) found in coastal prairies of the San Francisco Bay area and California’s north coast. An infertile type of capeweed is cultivated for use as an ornamental groundcover, and a fertile type has also been introduced. The infertile type is very competitive and can escape cultivation locally via creeping stolons, but fertile capeweed can spread faster, typically colonizing open or disturbed sites with exposed soil. Fertile capeweed is a major agricultural weed in Australia. New evidence suggests that the sterile and fertile forms are actually two separate species.

Cal-IPC Rating: Moderate — Alert?

CDFA Rating: A*?

Assessment(s)

Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.

Species ID Card

Invasive Species ID Card - To support field identification of early detection species, Cal-IPC has designed a set of Species ID cards that can be downloaded, printed double-sided, and trimmed to size.

Weed Management Notes

  • Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

There are no newsletter articles associated with this species yet.

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

Other Arctotheca calendula Information

  • CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
  • Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
  • CalWeedMapper - Distribution map of this species in California with ability to determine regional priorities.
  • EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
  • Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
  • USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.
  • Additional photos

    Arctotheca calendula_flower head_copyright2001_FredHrusa(CDFA)
    Arctotheca calendula (fertile capeweed) flower head. Photo: &#169 2001 Fred Hrusa, CDFA
    Arctotheca calendula_fruit (caryopsis)_copyright_DeanKelch(CDFA)
    Arctotheca calendula (fertile capeweed) fruit (caryopsis). Photo: &#169 Dean Kelch, CDFA
    Arctotheca calendula_growth habit_JuergenSchrenk
    Arctotheca calendula (fertile capeweed) growth habit. Photo: Juergen Schrenk
    Arctotheca calendula_infestation_JuergenSchrenk
    Arctotheca calendula (fertile capeweed) infestation. Photo: Juergen Schrenk