Arctotis acaulis
🍃leaf (4)
🌸flower (5)

Arctotis acaulis

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 9–11
Click count
38
Observations
34

Description

Source: leafsnap

Arctotis acaulis is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is an endemic species found in the Cape Provinces, South Africa.

🌳 Cape dandelion is more than an ornamental groundcover. Its vigorous growth in sandy soils plays an important role in stabilizing coastal dunes. Its ability to spread rapidly and bind the soil forms a natural barrier against erosion, turning vulnerable sandy areas into more stable ecosystems.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

Cape dandelion flourishes with the greatest possible daily sunlight. It requires full sun exposure for vigorous growth and good health. Native to open areas, the cape dandelion is adapted to plentiful sunlight. An imbalance — either too much or too little sun — can lead to subpar growth and reduced vigor.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Cape dandelion is native to milder climates and prefers an ideal temperature range of 68 to 100 °F (20 to 38 ℃). To help it withstand seasonal changes, adjust its surroundings to maintain this temperature range whenever possible.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Once most of a Cape dandelion's blooms have fully opened, it's time to resume fertilizing. When the flowers are at peak production, start fertilizing again every three to four weeks, weather permitting. Then, when the Cape dandelion begins to produce fewer new blooms, stop fertilizing; there's no need to feed the plant if it can no longer produce more flowers.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Prune Arctotis acaulis in early spring to remove dead stems and spent flowers. This promotes healthy growth and blooming. Trim any overgrown areas to maintain the plant's shape and improve air circulation, which reduces the risk of disease. For the best results, use clean, sharp tools to make angled cuts just above the leaf nodes.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Annual, Perennial, Biennial
Genus
Arctotis
Family
Asteraceae
Hardiness Zone
9-11
Mature Height
30 cm to 61 cm
Mature Spread
25 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Gray
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
Yellow, White
Flower Size
2.54 cm to 4.06 cm
Bloom Time
All year round
Planting Time
Spring, Autumn
Harvest Time
Spring, Summer, Fall
Native Area
South Africa, Lesotho

Tags (4)